Chimaev tells Strickland 'you have two days left' after UFC 328 face-off

A heated face-off at UFC 328 media day turned physical on Wednesday when Khamzat Chimaev kicked Sean Strickland during their staredown, and Chimaev wasted no time driving home his message afterward, telling Strickland that he had only two days left before their middleweight title fight on May 9.

Strickland enters the bout as the reigning middleweight champion, carrying a 31-7-0 record into his latest title defense. The 35-year-old American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. He is one of the busiest strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute, and has built his reputation on relentless forward pressure and volume output.

Chimaev, ranked number one in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, brings a 15-1-0 record and a style that blends elite wrestling with sharp striking. The 32-year-old, who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains at Allstars Training Center in Sweden, stands six-foot-two and posts a striking accuracy of 60 percent. His grappling is among the most suffocating in the sport, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same window.

Why it matters

• Strickland's middleweight title is on the line against the division's top-ranked contender
• Chimaev's wrestling-heavy approach presents a direct contrast to Strickland's high-volume striking game
• The physical altercation at the staredown signals genuine hostility rather than promotional theater, raising the stakes heading into fight night