Dricus Du Plessis still looms as coach predicts Sean Strickland vs. Khamzat Chimaev White House main event
Eric Nicksick says fans would "get behind" a push to put Sean Strickland opposite Khamzat Chimaev in a White House main event — but only if Strickland can beat No. 4-ranked Anthony Hernandez in the UFC Houston headliner. The matchup matter now because Strickland has not fought since losing his championship rematch to dricus du plessis at UFC 312 in Sydney, and a win in Houston would determine how quickly he could re-enter title contention.
Coach pushes the idea of a high-profile Strickland vs. Chimaev bout
Nicksick said the fight "would be sick, " adding that it could be built as a main event and that "a lot of people would get behind that, and it would be epic. " He pointed to the backstory between the two men — Khamzat Chimaev is now champion and had spent time training alongside Strickland when Chimaev "was in the gym" — and said the history and the rivalry would help sell the bout.
Where Dricus Du Plessis fits in
Strickland's most recent result remains his loss to dricus du plessis at UFC 312 in Sydney, a concrete marker on his record that left him out of competition until the Houston headliner. Nicksick argued that if Strickland can come through Houston uninjured and with style points, "it could put him right back into title contention. " That timeline ties Strickland's immediate future directly to his performance against Hernandez.
Strickland's immediate test: Anthony Hernandez in Houston
The coach was blunt about the hurdle ahead: Strickland must "survive the 'torture' from Hernandez" in this weekend's headliner. Hernandez is listed as the No. 4-ranked opponent, and Nicksick emphasized style and result, saying, "Stylistically, Sean can give Khamzat a tough fight" if he shows up with a strong, decisive performance in Houston.
Nicksick also noted that Strickland has spent years trashing Chimaev and that he once declined an opportunity to fight Chimaev. Still, he believes Strickland "moves the needle" and, knowing Strickland, if he emerges from Houston healthy, "he would love to fight on that card, so I can see him turning around pretty quick to do it if he wanted to. "
The next confirmed milestone is Sean Strickland's Octagon return as the headliner at UFC Houston against Anthony Hernandez this weekend; the result there will determine whether Nicksick's envisioned White House main event with Khamzat Chimaev remains a realistic push or stays a speculation.
