At the UFC 328 face-off, Khamzat Chimaev kicked Sean Strickland in the leg during a heated exchange. After Dana White asked them to behave, tensions escalated with Chimaev saying he wouldn't touch Strickland, while Strickland responded aggressively, telling him he wouldn't do anything. Chimaev then said "I'll knock you out" before delivering a kick to Strickland's leg. Strickland later commented that this was exactly what he expected from a coward, referring to Chimaev's actions. The altercation demonstrated the genuine animosity between both fighters ahead of their upcoming bout.
A pre-fight face-off for UFC 328 turned physical on May 7 when Khamzat Chimaev kicked middleweight champion Sean Strickland in the leg during a heated exchange at the event's media obligations, just two days before the two are scheduled to meet inside the octagon.
The confrontation began with UFC President Dana White attempting to keep order, but tensions escalated quickly. Chimaev told Strickland he would not touch him, only for Strickland to respond aggressively, firing back that Chimaev would not do anything. Chimaev then declared "I'll knock you out" before landing a kick to Strickland's leg. Afterward, Strickland said the incident was exactly what he expected from a coward, making clear his contempt for his opponent's conduct.
Strickland, 35, enters UFC 328 as the reigning middleweight champion carrying a 31-7-0 record. The American fighter out of Xtreme Couture is known for a relentless striking output, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach that gives him consistent range at 185 cm tall.
Chimaev, 30 — ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound — brings a 15-1-0 record and one of the most well-rounded profiles in the sport. The UAE-based Swede averages an elite 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and posts a striking accuracy of 60 percent, the highest of the two men. He trains out of Allstars Training Center and stands 188 cm tall.
Why it matters
- The kick confirms this rivalry carries genuine personal hostility beyond standard fight-week promotion
- A Chimaev victory would hand him the middleweight title and likely push him into the top five pound-for-pound rankings
- The stylistic contrast is stark: Strickland's high-volume striking versus Chimaev's wrestling-heavy, accurate offense
- Any pre-fight incident of this nature could draw attention from the athletic commission overseeing the bout
Saturday, May 9, 2026
