Cormier On Why Strickland Killed Chimaev Rematch

Sean Strickland killed his own rematch with Khamzat Chimaev by admitting their feud was fake, according to Daniel Cormier.

The UFC commentator said Strickland's revelation after winning the middleweight title at UFC 328 that the pre-fight hostility was manufactured for promotional purposes made it impossible to sell a second bout. "You cannot sell a rematch or any type of rivalry between these two because you almost pulled the curtain back," Cormier said on his YouTube channel, per BJPenn.com.

Strickland's Admission Hurt Future Marketability

Strickland shocked observers by beating Chimaev in the UFC 328 main event following a bitter build-up where both fighters traded aggressive comments in interviews and on social media. But the newly crowned champion soon revealed the animosity was mostly an act designed to generate interest in the fight, and that he held no real grudge against Chimaev.

Cormier called the admission unnecessary. "When he tells you that it's not real, 'I was selling a fight,' you believe him," the former two-division champion said. He added that while hardcore fans might still care about a rematch, the broader audience needed the blood feud narrative to invest. "To the general fan, how do we get them to believe it? They're not gonna be able to sell it on a blood feud like they did last time."

The two fighters recently exchanged words again on social media, but Cormier said the moment in Newark where Strickland buried the hatchet stripped those interactions of credibility. No immediate plans for a rematch have been announced.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Daniel Cormier explains why Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev ruined possible rematch