Khamzat Chimaev conducted a sparring session with Brendan Allen in preparation for Allen's upcoming bout against Sean Strickland at UFC 328. The training footage was captured by Bear Degidio. The post indicates Chimaev is actively helping teammates prepare for high-level competition. No details about the intensity or duration of the sparring session were provided. This represents standard pre-fight preparation with high-level training partners.
Khamzat Chimaev stepped in as a training partner for Brendan Allen ahead of UFC 328, with footage of the sparring session captured by Bear Degidio and circulated online in the lead-up to Allen's middleweight clash with Sean Strickland on May 9, 2026.
Allen, ranked fifth in the middleweight division at 30 years old, carries a 26-7-0 record into the contest. The American fighter out of Kill Cliff FC stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and brings a well-rounded game to the cage, landing significant strikes at a rate of 3.59 per minute with an accuracy of 53 percent. His grappling is equally notable, averaging 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Chimaev, the number-one ranked middleweight and number-10 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, represents as demanding a sparring partner as Allen could find. The 32-year-old Borz holds a 15-1-0 record and fights out of Allstars Training Center. His wrestling load is among the heaviest in the division at 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, and he connects on 60 percent of his significant strikes — figures that make him an ideal simulation for high-level opposition.
Standing across from Allen at UFC 328 will be the middleweight champion Sean Strickland. Tarzan, 35, trains out of Xtreme Couture and owns a 31-7-0 record. The six-foot-one champion carries a 76-inch reach and is one of the busiest strikers in the weight class, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Allen faces the reigning middleweight champion, making this among the biggest fights of his career
- Drilling against the division's top-ranked contender in Chimaev gives Allen exposure to elite wrestling and striking pressure
- A win would immediately thrust Allen into title contention at 185 pounds
Saturday, May 9, 2026
