Chimaev kicks Strickland during UFC 328 face-off altercation

During the UFC 328 face-off, Khamzat Chimaev kicked Sean Strickland in the leg following a heated verbal exchange. Sean Strickland later commented on social media calling it "exactly what I expected from a coward." According to a transcript, Dana White attempted to calm the situation, with Chimaev saying he wouldn't touch Strickland before the physical contact occurred. Strickland had been taunting Chimaev aggressively during the confrontation. The incident escalated tensions before their scheduled middleweight title fight. This physical altercation adds another layer of intensity to an already heated rivalry.