Khamzat Chimaev was highly energized and aggressive during the UFC 328 press conference, marking perhaps his most fired-up appearance since facing Gilbert Burns. For the first time in a long while, a UFC press conference delivered genuine emotional intensity rather than the usual formality. Chimaev not only matched but exceeded Sean Strickland's trash talk, forcing Strickland into an uncharacteristic position of having to shout over his opponent. Despite Strickland's efforts to deliver his trademark insults, he appeared unable to land his verbal punches effectively and may have even looked disappointed. The post acknowledges that while Strickland deserves credit for saying much of what he promised directly to Chimaev's face, the author still cannot envision a path to victory for Strickland, whose chances seem to depend entirely on Chimaev's potential weaknesses rather than Strickland's own strengths.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
