Dana White Explains He Was Holding Khamzat's Hands During Staredown Incident

UFC President Dana White has spoken out about the chaotic staredown between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland ahead of their UFC 328 middleweight title fight on May 9, offering his firsthand account of what took place during the heated face-off.

White revealed that he was physically holding Chimaev's hands at the moment a strike landed in the direction of Strickland, and that he believes the blow was targeted at Strickland's groin area. His account frames the incident as one he was actively working to contain, rather than a situation that went entirely unchecked.

The confrontation comes ahead of one of the most anticipated middleweight matchups in recent memory. Strickland, 35, enters as the reigning middleweight champion with a record of 31-7. The American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and lands an impressive 6.04 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the division's most active pressure fighters.

Chimaev, 32, holds the number-one middleweight ranking and sits tenth on the pound-for-pound list with a record of 15-1. The UAE-based Allstars Training Center product stands six-foot-two and brings a devastating blend of striking and grappling, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and connecting on 60 percent of his significant strikes.

Why it matters

• White's account adds official context to a viral moment that drew widespread attention across the sport
• The incident intensifies an already combustible rivalry heading into Saturday's title fight
• A groin-strike allegation, if pursued, could carry disciplinary implications beyond the staredown itself
• The middleweight title picture hinges on this fight, with the top-ranked contender looking to dethrone the reigning champion