Daniel Cormier: UFC Houston version of Sean Strickland a threat to Khamzat Chimaev

Daniel Cormier said Sean Strickland’s UFC Houston performance signaled a threat to champion Khamzat Chimaev, underscoring renewed stakes in the middleweight division. At UFC Houston on Saturday, Sean Strickland stopped Anthony Hernandez with a third-round body knee and punches after a defensive striking display. In postfight remarks on YouTube, Daniel Cormier argued that this version of Strickland could test Khamzat Chimaev. Cormier referenced Strickland’s 2023 title win over Israel Adesanya, and noted losses to Dricus Du Plessis. He added that Strickland did not appear fully locked in against Du Plessis. The fighters have trained together previously and now trade barbs, with Chimaev alleging a choke in training and Strickland calling it positional sparring.