Khamzat Chimaev has been captured on video sparring with middleweight contender Brendan Allen during training camp. The session is part of Chimaev's preparation for his upcoming fight against Sean Strickland at UFC 328. Allen, a ranked middleweight, is serving as a high-level sparring partner for the bout. The footage was shared by photographer Bear Degidio. This indicates Chimaev is in active training mode as the event approaches.
Video footage circulating online shows Khamzat Chimaev in active sparring with ranked middleweight Brendan Allen, offering a glimpse inside the training camp Chimaev is running ahead of his clash with Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9. The footage was captured and shared by photographer Bear Degidio.
Chimaev, 32, enters the fight as the number-one ranked middleweight and the number-ten pound-for-pound fighter in the world, carrying a 15-1-0 record. Fighting out of Allstars Training Center and representing the United Arab Emirates, "Borz" is one of the sport's most physical presences at six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. His numbers reflect a relentless, multi-dimensional game: he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands significant strikes at a 60 percent accuracy clip, the highest of anyone involved in this matchup.
Allen, nicknamed "All In," brings genuine elite-level value as a sparring partner. The Kill Cliff FC product holds a 26-7-0 record, ranks fifth in the middleweight division, and at 30 years old is operating near the peak of his career. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he is a physically comparable training partner for Chimaev. Allen's own grappling credentials are legitimate, averaging 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a credible test on the mat as well as the feet.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, presents a distinct challenge. "Tarzan" owns a 31-7-0 record and fights out of Xtreme Couture. The 35-year-old American is a high-volume striker, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach giving him a range advantage. Choosing a grappling-heavy, physically imposing sparring partner in Allen suggests Chimaev's camp is sharpening the tools most likely to be tested against the champion.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the top-ranked middleweight challenger, making this a title fight with major divisional consequences
- Allen's ranking and grappling credentials make him a meaningful, fight-specific sparring choice rather than a name-recognition selection
- Strickland's volume striking versus Chimaev's elite takedown rate sets up one of the division's most compelling stylistic collisions in recent memory
Saturday, May 9, 2026
