Strickland, currently targeting a title shot against Anthony Hernandez, expressed skepticism about Chimaev's immediate future. He believes the champion will defeat Imavov and then take a significant break due to the physical toll of fighting.
In a recent interview, Strickland criticized the middleweight division, calling it 'ice' and alleging Chimaev will 'sprain his ovaries' during a dominant performance. Chimaev has struggled to compete more than once a year since 2022.