In a dramatic about-face, Khamzat Chimaev has completely reversed course on his post-fight plans and is now laser-focused on one thing only: a rematch with Sean Strickland.

Just days after UFC 328, where Chimaev lost his Middleweight title in a razor-thin split decision to Strickland, the former champion had told Dana White he was moving up to Light Heavyweight. But now, the narrative has shifted completely.

"The rematch with Sean Strickland is the only fight that Khamzat wants, he is obsessed with it," Chimaev's team told ESPN. "That's the only fight he will accept right now."

His brother, Artur Chimaev, doubled down on that stance and revealed the team already has a target date in mind. "We've requested a rematch with Strickland," Artur told Sports.ru. "There's an event in Abu Dhabi in October, and we want to do it there. Khamzat isn't the type of person to move to another weight class and leave unanswered questions behind. We want the second fight. Right now we have no other goals."

Artur also shed light on the brutal weight cut that may have cost Chimaev the fight. "There was a problem with the weight cut," he explained. "The question became whether to cancel the fight or take the risk. When there was 2.7 pounds left, his body shut down. Oxygen deprivation. His body malfunctioned. We had to stop for an hour because his health wouldn't allow him to continue. Khamzat himself said he didn't know how he'd fight in that condition."

However, several obstacles stand in the way of an immediate rematch. Strickland revealed after UFC 328 that he suffered a shoulder injury during fight week that worsened during the bout, leaving his return timeline unclear. The newly crowned champion has also publicly stated he no longer wants to fight outside the United States, which could complicate plans for an Abu Dhabi showdown.

For now, Chimaev's obsession with redemption is clear. The question is whether Strickland and the UFC will give him the chance to settle the score.