Analyst Oleg Vereshchagin noted that the UFC 328 press conference finally delivered emotion and intensity after a long period of uneventful media events. Khamzat Chimaev appeared highly charged and motivated, more so than any time since his fight with Gilbert Burns. Sean Strickland confronted Chimaev directly with his criticisms, showing courage but struggling to land effective verbal exchanges as Chimaev dominated the back-and-forth. Despite Strickland's efforts, Vereshchagin expressed skepticism about his chances, suggesting any path to victory relies on hypothetical weaknesses in Chimaev's game rather than Strickland's own strengths. The emotional press conference has set the stage for their upcoming title fight.
UFC 328
Saturday, May 9, 2026
