Chimaev says he won't kill Strickland, calls it 'haram' to murder in sport

Khamzat Chimaev discussed his upcoming bout with Sean Strickland in an interview, joking that killing an opponent would be 'haram' (forbidden). When asked if he would refuse to release a submission hold on Strickland, Chimaev clarified he has no intention of killing anyone. He explained that while a street fight might be different, inside the cage it's a sport and officials would intervene regardless. The interviewer referenced fan speculation that security would need to physically separate Chimaev if he locked in a submission on Strickland. Chimaev's response suggested he views competition within the boundaries of sport rather than as a life-or-death scenario.