Brendan Schaub believes the UFC needs Sean Strickland in the middleweight title picture.
Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) stopped Anthony Hernandez by TKO in the UFC Fight Night 267 headliner to position himself as the possible next challenger to champion Khamzat Chimaev. Potentially standing in his way could be Nassourdine Imavov, who’s on a five-fight winning streak.
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However, despite Strickland’s controversial nature, Schaub said he’s exactly who the UFC should want to face Chimaev.
“Sean Strickland is one of their only stars,” Schaub said on his YouTube channel. “There’s probably 10 of them; he’s one of the 10. It gains traction. The UFC will use this as fuel for the next fight. If you think Imavov is getting the next title shot, you don’t know how this business works. Strickland beat him on days’ notice, so that doesn’t make much sense. Strickland is such a bigger star, which they’re dying for. Him vs. Khamzat is already on a platter. It’s right there.”
The UFC currently has just one American undisputed champion in Kayla Harrison, who holds the women’s bantamweight title. Schaub believes they need more.
“They need American stars. They’re pushing Americans,” Schaub said. “Joe Pyfer vs. Izzy (Adesanya) doesn’t make a ton of sense. We need Joe Pyfer to win this. We need American stars. Gable Steveson, we need to sign Gable. They need American stars. Strickland is right there on a platter.
“You’re out of your mind if you think they’re not going to do that fight.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Analyst: Sean Strickland ‘there on a platter’ to fight Khamzat Chimaev
