Khamzat Chimaev sparring with Brendan Allen ahead of UFC 328

Video footage shared by Bear Degidio has confirmed that Khamzat Chimaev is deep into fight camp, spotted sparring with top middleweight contender Brendan Allen as he prepares to face Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9.

Chimaev, known as "Borz," enters the fight as the number-one ranked middleweight and sits at number ten 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 an elite grappling-heavy game to the cage — averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing significant strikes at a 60 percent accuracy rate.

Allen, ranked fifth in the division at age 30, makes for a credible and demanding sparring partner. The Kill Cliff FC product holds a 26-7 record and offers Chimaev a well-rounded look, with solid striking accuracy at 53 percent, 1.56 takedowns per 15 minutes, and over one submission attempt per 15 minutes. At six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, his physical dimensions also closely mirror those of several elite middleweights.

Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, is a 35-year-old orthodox fighter out of Xtreme Couture with a 31-7 record. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, "Tarzan" is one of the sport's most prolific volume strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute.

Why it matters

• Chimaev's decision to spar Allen — a top-five middleweight — signals the seriousness of his UFC 328 preparation
• Allen's combination of wrestling and submission offense gives Chimaev a complex, championship-level look in camp
• The Chimaev-Strickland matchup puts the middleweight title on the line against the division's top-ranked contender, with major implications for the 185-pound landscape