Khamzat Chimaev was filmed conducting sparring sessions with Brendan Allen as part of his training camp preparation. The sparring took place ahead of Chimaev's upcoming fight against Sean Strickland scheduled for UFC 328. Allen, a middleweight contender, traveled to the training camp to work with Chimaev. The footage was shared by Bear Degidio, documenting the high-level preparation between the two UFC fighters.
Khamzat Chimaev was filmed sparring with middleweight contender Brendan Allen during his training camp ahead of UFC 328, where Chimaev is scheduled to face Sean Strickland on May 9. The footage was shared by Bear Degidio and shows Allen traveling to work alongside the top-ranked middleweight as Chimaev sharpens his preparations for one of the division's most anticipated matchups.
Chimaev, representing the UAE and training out of Allstars Training Center, enters the fight ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound. The 32-year-old carries a 15-1-0 record and brings elite grappling credentials to every camp, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes with a striking accuracy of 60 percent.
Allen makes for a credible and motivated sparring partner. The 30-year-old from the United States holds a 26-7-0 record and sits fifth in the middleweight rankings with Kill Cliff FC. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, "All In" offers a physical profile nearly identical to Chimaev's own frame. Allen's well-rounded game — including 1.56 takedowns per 15 minutes, a 53 percent striking accuracy, and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — makes him a sharp tool for simulating a high-level opponent.
The man waiting on the other side of those preparations is Sean Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion. "Tarzan" carries a 31-7-0 record and trains out of Xtreme Couture. The 35-year-old stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Chimaev versus Strickland is a title fight at middleweight, with the belt directly on the line at UFC 328.
- A win for the number-one ranked Chimaev would represent the completion of one of the sport's most scrutinized title pursuits.
- Allen's grappling and wrestling credentials make him an unusually well-matched sparring partner for replicating the physical and technical demands Strickland could present.
- The shared footage raises the public profile of Chimaev's camp and signals confidence heading into May 9.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
