Strickland calls Chimaev a coward after being struck during face-off

Tensions between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev boiled over at the UFC 328 pre-fight face-off on May 7, when Chimaev struck Strickland during the ceremonial staredown, prompting a sharp public response from the middleweight champion on social media.

Strickland, 35, called Chimaev a coward in the aftermath, adding that the incident was exactly what he had expected. A transcript of the exchange reveals that Strickland provoked Chimaev by calling him a dog and taunting him, saying he would not do anything — at which point Chimaev responded physically and told Strickland he would beat him. UFC President Dana White was present and attempting to keep the two men apart when the altercation took place. The 31-7 champion from the United States trains out of Xtreme Couture and carries a six-foot-one frame with a 76-inch reach. He averages 6.04 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the busiest volume punchers in the division.

Chimaev, ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, enters the fight with a 15-1 record representing the United Arab Emirates out of Allstars Training Center. The 32-year-old stands six-foot-two and brings an elite grappling threat, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 60 percent, the highest of the two fighters.

Why it matters

• The physical confrontation two days before the fight adds genuine animosity to an already high-stakes title bout at UFC 328.
• A Chimaev victory would hand the top-ranked middleweight contender his first UFC title and reshape the division's landscape.
• The stylistic contrast is stark: Strickland's relentless striking volume against Chimaev's wrestling-heavy, high-accuracy attack sets up a genuine test of styles.
• Chimaev's p4p ranking of tenth suggests a win here could elevate him into the sport's elite conversation immediately.