Chimaev spars with Brendan Allen ahead of Strickland bout at UFC 328

Video footage has surfaced of Khamzat Chimaev sparring with middleweight contender Brendan Allen as Chimaev continues his final preparations for UFC 328, where he is set to face middleweight champion Sean Strickland on May 9.

Chimaev, known as "Borz," enters the bout as the number-one ranked middleweight and sits tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 32-year-old, who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center, carries a 15-1 record and brings a suffocating style to the cage — averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing significant strikes at a 60 percent accuracy rate, among the highest in the division.

Allen, who visited the camp and stepped into the cage with Chimaev, holds a 26-7 record and is ranked fifth at middleweight. The 30-year-old American trains with Kill Cliff FC and brings well-rounded skills to any session, posting a striking accuracy of 53 percent, 1.56 takedowns per 15 minutes, and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. At six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he offers a physically comparable look to several top middleweights.

Standing across from Chimaev at UFC 328 is champion Sean Strickland, who holds a 31-7 record and defends the 185-pound title at 35 years old. The Xtreme Couture product is one of the most active strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. He stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance.

Why it matters

• Chimaev faces the middleweight champion in what represents the most high-profile contest of his UFC run
• Allen, ranked fifth at 185 pounds, provides legitimate divisional-level sparring as Chimaev sharpens his game
• The footage signals Chimaev's camp is entering its final, intensive phase ahead of UFC 328