Khamzat Chimaev was filmed conducting a sparring session with Brendan Allen as part of his preparation for his upcoming fight. Chimaev is scheduled to face Sean Strickland at UFC 328. The training footage was captured by Bear Degidio and shows the two middleweights working together. This represents part of Chimaev's camp leading up to the high-profile matchup.
Training footage of Khamzat Chimaev sparring with Brendan Allen has surfaced ahead of Chimaev's scheduled middleweight clash with Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9. The footage, captured by Bear Degidio, offers a look inside the camp Chimaev is building for one of the most anticipated bouts on the card.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," enters the fight 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 elite grappling credentials to every fight — averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing 60 percent of his significant strikes, among the highest accuracy marks in the division.
Across the cage at UFC 328 will be the reigning middleweight champion Sean Strickland, "Tarzan," a 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture with a 31-7 record. Strickland holds a 76-inch reach and is one of the most prolific strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. His forward pressure and volume-based style have defined his championship run.
Serving as Chimaev's sparring partner is Brendan Allen, the fifth-ranked middleweight at 30 years old with a 26-7 record. The Kill Cliff FC product stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and brings credible all-around tools to any camp — connecting on 53 percent of his significant strikes and averaging 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His wrestling and submission game makes him a useful training partner for a fighter preparing to face a champion with similar physical dimensions to Chimaev himself.
Why it matters
- Chimaev challenges a reigning champion at 185 pounds, raising the divisional stakes considerably
- Allen's ranking and grappling-heavy style make him a high-quality simulation of Strickland's physicality and experience level
- A Chimaev victory would immediately reshape the middleweight landscape given his pound-for-pound standing
Saturday, May 9, 2026
