Sean Strickland went dirt biking with Bellator champion Johnny Eblen just two weeks before his championship bout against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328. According to Strickland's social media post, after a five-round sparring war, he invited Eblen to ride cross bikes. Eblen had never ridden a dirt bike before but agreed to the activity. Strickland expressed respect for Eblen's attitude and willingness to try something new so close to their respective title fights.
Sean Strickland raised eyebrows this week after sharing footage of himself and unbeaten Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen riding dirt bikes together — just two weeks out from Strickland's title defense against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 on May 9.
According to Strickland's social media post, the outing followed a five-round sparring session between the two fighters. Strickland invited Eblen to take the cross bikes out afterward, and despite having never ridden a dirt bike before, the Bellator champion accepted without hesitation. Strickland publicly credited Eblen for his attitude and willingness to try something new so close to fight night.
Strickland, 35, carries a 31-7-0 record into UFC 328 and holds the UFC middleweight title. Fighting out of Xtreme Couture, the six-foot-one, 185-centimeter American is one of the most active strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute across his career. His reach measures a 76-inch 193 centimeters.
Waiting for him is Chimaev, 32, ranked number one in the middleweight division and tenth on the pound-for-pound list. The UAE-based Swede stands six-foot-two at 188 centimeters and owns a 15-1-0 record. Chimaev is a grappling-heavy threat, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, while also posting a striking accuracy of 60 percent.
Eblen, 34, arrives as an undefeated prospect at 16-0-0. The American stands six-foot-one with a 74-inch reach and posts a remarkable 12.3 significant strikes landed per minute at 63.4 percent accuracy — numbers that put him among the most precise finishers in any organization.
Why it matters
- Strickland's willingness to engage in an unorthodox pre-camp activity just 15 days before a title fight is likely to draw scrutiny from fans and analysts alike
- Eblen's involvement signals a close relationship between two fighters with respective title fights on the horizon
- The footage adds an unpredictable narrative layer to an already high-stakes middleweight championship bout
Saturday, May 9, 2026
