Jorge Masvidal has unloaded on Khamzat Chimaev ahead of the undefeated champion’s upcoming middleweight title defense against Sean Strickland, attacking both his style and cardio in a foul‑mouthed rant that has quickly spread across MMA social media.
Masvidal’s comments surfaced in a clip from his Deathrow MMA show, where the retired UFC star reacted to Chimaev talking tough about him, his co‑host, and Sean Strickland. In a recent segment, Masvidal was informed that Chimaev had claimed he could beat Masvidal, his podcast partner Johnny Eblen, and Strickland on the same night, which set the tone for his response.
“The funny thing about that is that you ain’t gonna kill nobody by hugging anybody to death. You better stop with that crotch-sniffing shit, especially if you’re talking to me, brother. Your legacy is always going to be known for sniffing other dudes’ crotches.
“Every time you had a chance to prove somebody wrong, all you do is sniff crotches. And instead of worrying about what I’m talking and posting about, you should be worrying about your fight, because your gas tank is trash, and Sean’s about to test your gas tank.”
Jorge Masvidal Rips Into Khamzat Chimaev
In the viral clip, Masvidal mocks the idea that Chimaev’s wrestling‑first style is dangerous in the way the champion likes to present it. He says Chimaev is “not gonna kill nobody by hugging anybody to death” and tells him to “stop with that crotch‑sniffing” if he plans to keep talking about him.
These comments tap into a long‑running theme in Masvidal’s public persona, where he takes aim at wrestlers he feels win through top control without much offense. Years before this newest rant, Masvidal had used the “crotch sniffer” line for other fighters he viewed as safety‑first grapplers, so the language fits a pattern rather than being a one‑off insult aimed solely at Chimaev. By drawing that label onto Chimaev, Masvidal is pairing the Chechen‑born champion with a group of wrestlers he has criticized during his UFC run.
Masvidal’s rant doesn’t stop at style; he also questions whether Chimaev can hold up over five rounds with Strickland. He tells Chimaev that instead of worrying about what he posts or says on his show, the champion should “be worrying about your fight, because your gas tank is trash, and Sean’s about to test your gas tank.” Earlier this month, Masvidal had already made it clear he was backing Strickland, saying on Deathrow MMA that he would “dump the house on Strickland” and that he doesn’t think Chimaev is “all that good.”
Chimaev is scheduled to defend his UFC middleweight title against former champion Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328 on 9 May, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the matchup in early March as part of a slate of upcoming events, locking Strickland in as Chimaev’s first challenger at 185 pounds. Chimaev captured the belt last August with a dominant unanimous decision win over Dricus du Plessis, a performance defined by heavy wrestling pressure, top control, and steady ground damage across five rounds.
Strickland, a former middleweight champion himself, earned his shot by staying active after losing the belt and putting together key wins, including a recent victory over Anthony Hernandez. Known for his high‑volume jab, forward pressure, and durability, Strickland figures to test Chimaev’s conditioning and composure over championship rounds if he can stay upright or work back to his feet consistently.
Whether Chimaev responds directly to Masvidal’s latest tirade remains to be seen, but the clip has already sharpened the narrative ahead of UFC 328: an undefeated champion with a wrestling‑heavy approach and lingering cardio questions, and a challenger many believe is built to drag him into the kind of fight Masvidal insists he cannot handle.
