Sean Strickland, fresh off a commanding knockout victory over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston, is setting his sights on a potential title bout against Khamzat Chimaev. Despite his recent success, Strickland’s earlier defeat to former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman continues to cast a shadow on his path to a middleweight title shot. This lingering setback adds tension to Strickland’s quest for championship gold as he prepares for the next phase of his career.
Ali Abdelaziz Reignites Memories of Strickland’s Past Defeat by Kamaru Usman
Following Strickland’s impressive win in Houston, Ali Abdelaziz, longtime manager of Kamaru Usman, reignited debate by sharing a social media post highlighting Usman’s previous victory over Strickland. The post featured a moment from their fight at UFC 210, where Usman efficiently controlled and defeated Strickland with a unanimous decision in a welterweight contest.
Strickland’s UFC career began in the welterweight division, where he faced Usman in the preliminary card of UFC 210. The bout ended decisively in Usman’s favor and marked a turning point for Strickland, who soon moved up to middleweight after only a few fights at 170 pounds. Abdelaziz’s timely reminder comes nearly nine years after that fight, stirring speculation around the middleweight rankings amid Strickland’s pursuit of the Khamzat Chimaev title shot.
Usman has publicly outlined plans for 2026 that include capturing titles in two different weight classes before retiring. His past performance against Chimaev, especially at UFC 294 where he secured a majority decision, suggests a possible future middleweight challenge is not far off. However, Usman seems intent on reclaiming the welterweight crown before officially making that move.
@USMAN84kg yeah I must’ve forgot pic.twitter.com/DAahLO4rdP
— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) February 23, 2026
Assessing the Title Prospects of Sean Strickland and Kamaru Usman
Sean Strickland’s recent performance at UFC Houston, where he halted Anthony Hernandez in a decisive fashion, demonstrated his resilience and skill. Yet, despite this momentum, many argue he is not yet ready to challenge Khamzat Chimaev for the middleweight championship. Strickland’s history includes two consecutive losses to Dricus du Plessis during title fights, a factor complicating his immediate title shot aspirations.
Before a potential bout with Chimaev, Strickland would likely need to secure additional wins to reinforce his credibility at middleweight. Currently, Nassourdine Imavov is considered the probable next contender to face Chimaev, meaning Strickland might focus first on matches such as a rematch with Brendan Allen, who recently earned an impressive victory against Reinier de Ridder.
A series of consecutive victories would better position Strickland for a legitimate championship challenge. Meanwhile, Kamaru Usman finds himself at a crossroads after a recent record marked by three losses in four fights, with his last win against Joaquin Buckley occurring in 2025. Despite this, Usman retains respect in the division and has expressed interest in confronting the reigning champion, which could influence the matchmaking landscape.
To enhance his title contention, Usman would need favorable results against top-tier opponents like Michael Morales, especially as the welterweight division remains active with key bouts such as Ian Garry versus Islam Makhachev underway. These contests will shape the future of title opportunities in both welterweight and middleweight divisions and dictate the next big fights.
Should both Strickland and Usman successfully navigate their upcoming challenges, the possibility remains for a highly anticipated rematch between the two, recalling their notable UFC 210 encounter. Fans continue to debate if such a showdown could unfold again and how it might impact the welterweight and middleweight title pictures moving forward.
With intense competition and dynamic contenders, the UFC landscape is positioned to deliver exciting developments as Strickland targets Khamzat Chimaev’s title and Usman pursues his dual-division ambitions.
@USMAN84kg yeah I must’ve forgot pic.twitter.com/DAahLO4rdP
— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) February 23, 2026
