Chimaev says friends confronted Strickland over trash talk

Khamzat Chimaev revealed that his friends once approached Sean Strickland to confront him about his provocative statements. According to Chimaev, when his friends confronted Strickland, the American middleweight responded by saying he was simply promoting their potential fight. The incident highlights the tension that has existed between the two middleweights, though Strickland's response suggests some of his inflammatory comments may be part of his fight promotion strategy rather than genuine personal animosity. Details about when this confrontation occurred or what specific statements prompted it were not provided.