Sean Strickland expresses love for Russian fans ahead of UFC 328

Sean Strickland made a public outreach to Russian MMA fans this week, releasing a video message expressing his affection for supporters from Russia just days before his middleweight title defense against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 on May 9. The clip was shared by UFC Eurasia, sparking a wave of mixed responses online, with some fans welcoming the gesture warmly while others remained loyal to Chimaev heading into fight night.

Strickland, 35, enters the bout as the reigning middleweight champion, carrying a record of 31-7-0 and representing Xtreme Couture out of the United States. The six-foot-one, orthodox striker is one of the most active punchers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute and working behind a 76-inch reach. His pressure-heavy, high-output style has defined his championship run.

Standing across from him will be Khamzat Chimaev, nicknamed "Borz," who holds the number-one middleweight ranking and sits tenth on the pound-for-pound list. The 32-year-old has compiled a 15-1-0 record and fights out of Allstars Training Center under the United Arab Emirates flag. At six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Chimaev brings elite-level wrestling to the cage, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same span. His 60 percent striking accuracy also ranks among the best in the division.

Why it matters

• Strickland's outreach to Russian fans carries extra weight given Chimaev's deep popularity across Russian-speaking MMA communities
• The champion versus the number-one contender framing makes this a straightforward title picture clash at 185 pounds
• Contrasting styles — Strickland's volume striking versus Chimaev's smothering grappling — set up one of the more compelling technical matchups the division has seen