Khamzat Chimaev is engaged in sparring sessions with Brendan Allen as part of his training camp for his upcoming fight against Sean Strickland at UFC 328. The training footage was shared by Bear Degidio. This sparring partnership indicates Chimaev is actively preparing for his middleweight title challenge. Allen's presence suggests Chimaev is working with high-level partners to prepare for Strickland's fighting style.
Training footage shared by Bear Degidio has revealed that Khamzat Chimaev is sparring with middleweight contender Brendan Allen as part of his preparation for a title fight against Sean Strickland at UFC 328, scheduled for May 9, 2026.
Chimaev, 32, enters the camp as the number-one ranked middleweight and sits tenth on the pound-for-pound list. Fighting out of Allstars Training Center and representing the United Arab Emirates, "Borz" carries a 15-1-0 record and brings some of the most imposing grappling numbers in the division, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 60 percent. He is making the move up — or across — to challenge for the 185-pound strap.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, is a 35-year-old orthodox fighter out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. He holds a 31-7-0 record and is known for relentless forward pressure and high output, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. His reach of 76 inches and methodical, volume-based boxing have defined his style throughout his title reign.
Allen's inclusion in Chimaev's camp is a notable detail. The 30-year-old Kill Cliff FC product holds a 26-7-0 record and is ranked fifth in the middleweight division. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Allen offers Chimaev a technical orthodox look with sharp defensive awareness — his striking accuracy sits at 53 percent — along with credible wrestling and submission threats averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Chimaev selecting a top-five middleweight as a sparring partner signals serious investment in camp quality ahead of the biggest fight of his career
- Allen's combination of striking and grappling gives Chimaev a well-rounded test that mirrors elements of Strickland's forward-pressure style
- A Chimaev victory would install one of the sport's most dominant grapplers as middleweight champion, reshaping the division's landscape entirely
Saturday, May 9, 2026
