Sean Strickland’s next fight? UFC Middleweight champion needs ‘little longer’ to heal, open to silencing trash-talking sore loser…

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MAY 30: Sean Strickland is seen on stage during the UFC 302 press conference at Prudential Center on May 30, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Sean Strickland is almost ready.

It has been almost three months since the foul-mouthed Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion reclaimed the 185-pound title by defeating Khamzat Chimaev in a razor-close split decision at UFC 328 on Sat., May 9, 2026, inside Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

And apparently, fight fans have been bombarding Strickland with the same question:

When is he going to fight again?

Unfortunately, they are going to have to wait a little bit longer.

“Y’all keep asking me when I’m gonna fight again,” Strickland wrote on social media. “Shoulder is getting solid, need a little longer.”

Strickland injured his shoulder just four days before UFC 328, suffering a Grade 1 AC joint separation while sparring Johnny Eblen during fight week. Despite the injury, he pushed through and still managed to outlast Chimaev across five grueling rounds.

Of course, fighting 25 minutes with Chimaev probably did not help the shoulder heal any faster.

So, when Strickland is cleared to compete, who gets the next title shot?

A rematch with Nassourdine Imavov ? A trilogy figh t with Dricus du Plessis ? Or does UFC run back the Chimaev fight after their extremely close first meeting?

Well, Strickland seems pretty open to shutting Chimaev up again.

“As to who I’m fighting … Chimaev keeps running his f—king mouth,” Strickland wrote. “Want me to teach you how to cut weight so you can stop bitching for a second L?”

Sorry, DDP.

Apparently, the Chimaev rematch makes plenty of sense to the champ .

Chimaev has been chirping since the night he lost , and given how close the first fight was, UFC could absolutely justify running it back. Add in the bad blood , Strickland’s trash talk and Chimaev’s constant complaints , and it is probably the easiest Middleweight title fight to sell right now.

With six numbered events left on UFC’s 2026 schedule, December in Las Vegas feels like the cleanest landing spot, especially because that is what the champion wants .

Strickland’s shoulder still needs a little longer, but his mouth is clearly already in championship shape.

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →