Khamzat Chimaev has been filmed sparring with Brendan Allen during a training camp session. Chimaev is preparing for his upcoming fight against Sean Strickland at UFC 328. The sparring footage was captured by Bear Degidio and shared on social media. Allen, a UFC middleweight, arrived at the camp and was met in the cage by Chimaev for the training session.
Footage has emerged of Khamzat Chimaev sparring with UFC middleweight Brendan Allen during a training camp session, with the video captured by Bear Degidio and circulated on social media. Chimaev is using the camp to sharpen his preparation for his middleweight title fight against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026.
Chimaev, 32, enters that contest ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, carrying a 15-1 record and representing the UAE out of Allstars Training Center. Known as "Borz," he is one of the sport's most complete wrestlers, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing 60 percent of his significant strikes — a combination that has made him a persistent title contender.
Allen, nicknamed "All In," brings genuine elite-level credentials as a sparring partner. The 30-year-old Kill Cliff FC product holds a 26-7 record, sits fifth in the middleweight rankings, and stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach — nearly identical measurements to Chimaev's own frame. Allen averages 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, giving him the wrestling and grappling profile to push Chimaev in a realistic simulation of high-level opposition.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, is 35 years old and trains out of Xtreme Couture. The American owns a 31-7 record and brings relentless forward pressure, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach that gives him a length advantage over most opponents in the division.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is challenging the reigning middleweight champion, making this one of the division's most anticipated bouts of 2026
- Allen's ranking and wrestling ability make him a credible and specific sparring tool for Chimaev's camp
- Both Chimaev and Strickland are orthodox strikers with contrasting output styles, shaping how camp preparation is likely structured
Saturday, May 9, 2026
