Dana White says Chimaev struck Strickland during face-off confrontation

Dana White admitted he was not vigilant enough during the face-off between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland at the UFC 328 press conference. White believes Chimaev struck Strickland between the legs during the altercation, though a security guard on that side partially blocked the impact. The UFC president acknowledged that while fighters sometimes show mutual respect during face-offs, this was not one of those occasions. White characterized this as one of the most intense cases of genuine animosity between fighters that the promotion has witnessed. The incident underscores the real tension building ahead of their middleweight bout.