Khamzat Chimaev commented on increased security measures during UFC 328 fight week. When asked if fans should expect confrontations with Sean Strickland, Chimaev stated that won't happen because officials are keeping them separated. He claimed not to know Strickland's whereabouts. Responding to Dana White's announcement of extra security, Chimaev said the measures are for Strickland's protection. The exchange suggests UFC officials are taking precautions to prevent altercations between the two fighters before their scheduled bout.
Khamzat Chimaev made headlines during UFC 328 fight week on Tuesday when he addressed the heightened security presence surrounding him and middleweight champion Sean Strickland ahead of their scheduled bout on May 9.
Speaking to media, Chimaev dismissed any notion of a pre-fight confrontation with Strickland, saying officials have kept the two men separated and that he does not know where Strickland is located. When asked about Dana White's announcement of extra security measures, Chimaev turned the framing on its head, insisting the added protection is there for Strickland's benefit rather than his own.
Strickland, 35, enters the fight as the reigning middleweight champion carrying a professional record of 31-7. The American fighter out of Xtreme Couture is one of the most active strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at a 42 percent accuracy rate. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, he has held the title and built a reputation for relentless forward pressure.
Chimaev, 32, arrives as the number-one-ranked middleweight and sits tenth on the pound-for-pound list with a record of 15-1. The UAE-based Allstars Training Center product is a dominant grappler, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same span, while also posting a striking accuracy rate of 60 percent. At six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he presents a well-rounded threat across all phases.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's comments signal real tension between the camps, with UFC officials taking the situation seriously enough to physically separate the fighters during fight week.
- A championship at stake at 185 pounds means the outcome directly reshapes the top of the middleweight division.
- The contrasting styles — Strickland's high-volume striking versus Chimaev's elite grappling — make any pre-fight confrontation an additional storyline heading into Saturday night.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
