Khamzat Chimaev is actively preparing for his UFC 328 main event against Sean Strickland by sparring with top middleweight contender Brendan Allen. The training footage was shared by Bear Degidio, showing Chimaev working with Allen in what appears to be high-level preparation. This sparring session indicates that Chimaev is taking a serious approach to his matchup with Strickland. The post confirms the fight is scheduled for UFC 328, though no specific date was mentioned. Details beyond the sparring partnership remain limited in the original post.
Khamzat Chimaev is sharpening his tools ahead of UFC 328 by sparring with top-five middleweight contender Brendan Allen, with training footage shared by coach Bear Degidio confirming the partnership in the lead-up to his main event clash with champion Sean Strickland on May 9.
Chimaev, known by his "Borz" nickname, enters the fight as the number-one ranked middleweight and the tenth-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world. The 32-year-old representing the UAE carries a 15-1 record and trains out of Allstars Training Center. His statistical profile is arguably the most well-rounded in the division, landing 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate while averaging a remarkable 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Allen makes for a credible and purposeful sparring partner. The 30-year-old American, who fights out of Kill Cliff FC, holds a 26-7 record and sits at number five in the middleweight rankings. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, "All In" is an active grappler himself, averaging 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, which should provide Chimaev with meaningful resistance on the mat in preparation for Strickland.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, is a 31-7 fighter known for relentless output. The 35-year-old orthodox striker out of Xtreme Couture stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and lands an imposing 6.04 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Chimaev pairing with a ranked grappler like Allen suggests focused preparation for Strickland's pressure-heavy, high-volume style
- A win would hand Chimaev the middleweight title and elevate him further in the pound-for-pound rankings
- The number-one contender facing the champion in a 185-pound title fight gives UFC 328 significant divisional weight
Saturday, May 9, 2026
