Khamzat Chimaev spars with Brendan Allen ahead of UFC 328 vs Strickland

Khamzat Chimaev has been filmed sparring with middleweight contender Brendan Allen as he builds toward his fight against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9. Photographer Bear Degidio captured the footage, offering a rare glimpse inside the Borz's training camp ahead of one of the most anticipated bouts of his career.

Chimaev, 32, represents the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center. Ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, he carries a 15-1 record and has built a reputation as one of the sport's most complete threats. His numbers back it up — a striking accuracy of 60 percent and a staggering 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes make him a nightmare across all phases of a fight.

Serving as a training partner for the camp is Brendan Allen, the fifth-ranked middleweight in the world. The 30-year-old American from Kill Cliff FC holds a 26-7 record and brings genuine top-level credentials to the role. Allen lands 53 percent of his significant strikes and averages 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a credible and well-rounded sparring option.

Chimaev's opponent, Sean Strickland, is the reigning middleweight champion. "Tarzan" is 35 years old, trains at Xtreme Couture, and owns a 31-7 record. The American is one of the division's most prolific volume strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute, though he works at a 42 percent accuracy rate. He carries a six-foot-one frame with a 76-inch reach.

Why it matters

• Chimaev enters as the number-one-ranked middleweight challenger, making this a true title fight on paper
• Strickland's high-volume striking style will test Chimaev's pressure-and-grapple approach at 185 pounds
• Allen's own grappling credentials make him a particularly useful sparring partner to simulate championship-level resistance