Dustin Poirier says opponents will no longer find Khamzat Chimaev intimidating after UFC 328.
Chimaev (15-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) suffered his first-career loss to Sean Strickland (31-7 MMA, 18-7 UFC) when he lost his middleweight title in Saturday’s main event at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
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After such a heated build-up, in which Strickland took aim at Chimaev’s religion, Poirier was disappointed to see them make amends so easily after the fight.
“The next fight, whoever he gets matched up with, it’s going to be tough for him to intimidate because his aura took a hit this week,” Poirier said of Chimaev on UFC on Paramount+. “With the back-and-forth, I thought it was real. I think his whole aura took a hit this week. And putting the belt on (Strickland) – like, come on, man. They worked us for sure.”
After contemplating a move up to light heavyweight, Chimaev has now called for a rematch against Strickland. All three judges had the fight two rounds a piece heading into the final frame, with two judges giving Strickland Round 5 and the fight.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dustin Poirier: Khamzat Chimaev’s ‘aura took a hit’ after UFC 328
