Former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev explained why he exchanged pleasantries with Sean Strickland despite their past feud.

For the first time in his UFC career, Khamzat Chimaev left the Octagon without his hand raised, as he lost to Sean Strickland in their highly anticipated grudge match at UFC 328. After months of bad blood between the former training partners, Chimaev and Strickland exchanged pleasantries just before, during, and after their UFC 328 headliner.

Chimaev and Strickland squashing their heated feud was in stark contrast to the personal insults hurled at one another during fight week. In the lead-up to UFC 328, Strickland insulted Chimaev’s family, religion, and even his manhood, prompting heated moments at the pre-fight press conference and ceremonial weigh-in.

Strickland admitted after UFC 328 that he went ‘too hard’ at Chimaev in pre-fight trash talk, and apologized to Chimaev and his fans for his actions. Strickland’s apology wasn’t well received by many pundits, fans, and fighters, who questioned the authenticity of their pre-fight buildup.

For the first time since UFC 328, Chimaev explained why he was willing to squash his bad blood with Strickland.

Khamzat Chimaev addresses backlash of squashing Sean Strickland feud at UFC 328

In a recent Instagram story post, Chimaev addressed criticism of him and Strickland squashing their beef at UFC 328.

🚨 Khamzat Chimaev went on stories to explain why he was friendly with Sean Strickland despite all of the trash talk that was said:

“And regarding that guy — he said a lot of unnecessary things. People were asking why I shook his hand and why I put the belt on him afterward. We… pic.twitter.com/xCvOmtVGtK

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 12, 2026

“Regarding [Strickland], he said a lot of unnecessary things. People were asking why I shook his hand and why I put the belt on him afterwards. We don’t have the habit of talking, or fighting, after a loss,” Chimaev said,

“If we fight, we fight inside the cage. And we fought as best as we could…that guy lowered his head and asked for forgiveness. If a person asks for forgiveness, I can forgive him.

“I’m not an oppressor, so that I would refuse to forgive him.”

As for what’s next, Chimaev allegedly told his team that he’s ‘obsessed’ with getting an immediate rematch with Strickland later this year. This is contradicted by UFC CEO Dana White’s post-fight claim that Chimaev told him he wants to move up to light heavyweight after a harsh weight cut.

Who should Khamzat Chimaev fight next after UFC 328? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!