Strickland's Coach Vows to Make Chimaev 'Pay a Price' in Potential Title Fight

Eric Nicksick says they'll have their 'work cut out for us' against the undefeated UFC middleweight champion.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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After Sean Strickland's recent win, a potential title fight against UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is now being discussed. Strickland's coach, Eric Nicksick, says they know it won't be easy but vows to make Chimaev 'pay a price' for his takedown attempts. Nicksick says the key is disrupting Chimaev's chain wrestling and forcing him to restart, making each entry costly. While there has been talk about past sparring sessions between the two fighters, Nicksick says what happens in the gym should stay there and doesn't matter for the actual fight.

Why it matters

This potential matchup between the surging Strickland and the dominant champion Chimaev would be a highly anticipated title fight in the UFC middleweight division. Strickland's coach Nicksick is laying out their strategy to try and dethrone the unbeaten Chimaev, which would be a major upset if they can pull it off.

The details

Chimaev is known for his strong wrestling, constant pressure, and ground control - attributes that have given many fighters trouble. Nicksick says they'll need to disrupt Chimaev's chain wrestling, force him to restart, and make him 'pay a price' for each takedown attempt. The coach doesn't put much stock in past sparring sessions between the two fighters, saying that what happens in training should stay there and doesn't matter for the actual fight.

  • Sean Strickland defeated Anthony Hernandez in the main event of UFC Fight Night 267 in Houston on February 25, 2026.

The players

Sean Strickland

A professional MMA fighter with a 30-7 record, including 17 wins in the UFC.

Khamzat Chimaev

The undefeated UFC middleweight champion, with a 15-0 professional record and 9 wins in the UFC.

Eric Nicksick

The head coach at Xtreme Couture, where Strickland trains.

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What they’re saying

“We're going to have our work cut out for us, and we know that. If we can shut some of that stuff down and make him doubt on any of these routes that he's on, especially when it comes to the ground game, he's very systematic. If we can disrupt some of the chain wrestling that he puts together and make him restart and put some doubt in his mind, that's where we have to be successful – if and when you defend those takedowns, making him pay for it. Telling him, 'Hey, if you're going to come in here, you're going to have to pay a price for that.'”

— Eric Nicksick, Head Coach, Xtreme Couture (Submission Radio)

“I think what happens in the training room should stay in the training room. Training is training. Guys should be putting themselves in less advantageous positions to make themselves better. We do a lot of situational sparring, situational training. Outside of camp, guys should be working on things, and guys should be exploring new options and trying to develop new tactics and techniques. Thinking that just because you beat a guy in the training room, whether you're on the A side or B side, you shouldn't take that into the fight. What happens in the training room, I feel like, should stay in the room. I think both guys are great competitors and game opponents. So, to me, none of that stuff matters in the room.”

— Eric Nicksick, Head Coach, Xtreme Couture (Submission Radio)

The takeaway

This potential title fight between Strickland and the undefeated champion Chimaev would be a major challenge, but Strickland's coach Nicksick is confident they can disrupt Chimaev's dominant wrestling and make him 'pay a price' for each takedown attempt. The coach is downplaying any significance of past sparring sessions, saying what happens in training should stay there and doesn't matter for the actual fight.