Chimaev and Strickland trade conflicting stories about gym rivalry

Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland have publicly shared conflicting accounts of their past gym tensions. Chimaev claims Strickland avoided training with him by switching locations between Xtreme Couture and the UFC PI, and alleges he beat Strickland in sparring. Strickland counters that Chimaev took offense to a joke about Chechnya, sent threatening messages in a group chat, but then failed to show up when Strickland invited him to meet. Both fighters question each other's toughness and authenticity. The details of what actually transpired remain unclear, with each offering their own version of events.