Chimaev says his friends confronted Strickland over trash talk, Sean claimed hype

Khamzat Chimaev revealed that his friends once approached Sean Strickland to address the American's controversial statements. According to Chimaev, when confronted, Strickland explained that he was simply promoting their potential fight through his comments. The encounter suggests that Chimaev's associates took issue with Strickland's rhetoric, which the former middleweight champion is known for using liberally. Strickland's response indicates he views his provocative statements as part of fight promotion rather than personal animosity. The details of when and where this confrontation occurred were not specified.