Khamzat Chimaev has released video footage showing him sparring with Sean Strickland ahead of their UFC 328 middleweight title eliminator. The posting of sparring footage is relatively rare in the UFC and appears designed to build anticipation for their May 10th clash. Both fighters are competing for the right to challenge for the middleweight championship. The exact timing and context of when the sparring session took place was not specified in the post. This type of pre-fight media activity is unusual as most fighters keep training footage private until after their bouts.
Khamzat Chimaev raised eyebrows this week by posting sparring footage alongside Sean Strickland on social media, just days before the two middleweights meet at UFC 328 on May 9th in what is billed as a title eliminator bout.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," enters the fight as the number-one ranked middleweight and sits tenth on the pound-for-pound list. The 30-year-old — representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center — carries a 15-1 record and has built his reputation on relentless wrestling, averaging an eye-catching 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. His striking accuracy of 60 percent is among the highest in the division, and he averages 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, underlining the constant danger he presents on the mat.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, brings a 31-7 record into the contest. The 35-year-old American, who trains at Xtreme Couture, is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a six-foot-one frame and a 76-inch reach. Strickland operates from an orthodox stance and has long been known for his high-volume, pressure-based boxing style.
The release of sparring footage before a fight is a notable departure from standard UFC practice, where training camps almost universally guard such material until well after fight night. Whether the clip was intended to send a message, generate attention, or something else entirely was not made clear in the post.
Why it matters
- The winner earns the right to challenge for the middleweight title, making this one of the most consequential bouts at UFC 328
- At number one in the division, Chimaev is the most credentialed challenger Strickland has faced since claiming the belt
- The stylistic contrast — Strickland's high-output striking versus Chimaev's elite wrestling and grappling volume — sets up a sharply defined test for both men
Saturday, May 9, 2026
