Khamzat Chimaev has released video of a sparring session with Sean Strickland on social media. The footage appears to be promotional content leading into their upcoming fight at UFC 328. The post directs viewers to alternative platforms to view the sparring video. This is a common practice during fight week to build hype and showcase preparation. Details about the sparring session itself or when it took place were not provided in the post.
Khamzat Chimaev took to social media ahead of UFC 328 to release sparring footage alongside middleweight champion Sean Strickland, giving fans a glimpse of his preparation as the two men count down to their Saturday showdown.
Strickland, 35, enters the fight as the reigning middleweight champion, carrying a 31-7-0 record into the bout. The American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture and stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, is one of the sport's most relentless pressure fighters, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute. His striking accuracy sits at 42 percent, a figure that reflects the sheer volume he throws rather than a selective approach.
Chimaev, 32, comes in ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, holding a 15-1-0 record. The UAE-based Swede stands six-foot-two and represents Allstars Training Center. His 60 percent striking accuracy is among the elite in the division, and his grappling numbers are exceptional — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts in the same span, making him a credible threat in every phase of the fight.
The sparring clip, which directed viewers to alternative platforms for the full footage, follows a well-worn fight-week formula of building anticipation through behind-the-scenes content. No details about when the session took place or the conditions surrounding it were included in the post.
Why it matters
- Strickland's middleweight title is directly on the line against the division's top-ranked contender
- Chimaev's elite takedown volume poses a stylistic problem for a champion who averages less than one takedown per 15 minutes
- A win for Chimaev would place a pound-for-pound top-ten fighter atop the 185-pound division
- UFC 328 is scheduled for May 9, 2026, leaving little time between the media moment and fight night
Saturday, May 9, 2026
