Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland did not hold back his feelings about current titleholder Khamzat Chimaev following their official weigh-in for UFC 328. The American fighter leveled sharp accusations at the 32-year-old champion, who represents the UAE, setting a tense tone for their upcoming main event clash.
"I'll be brief. He wanted to hit me between the legs because he's a coward. This [expletive] didn't make weight. F*** you!" Strickland stated plainly after stepping off the scale. The comments highlight the intense rivalry and personal animosity that has developed between the two middleweight contenders ahead of their championship bout.
The highly anticipated fight is scheduled to headline the UFC 328 card, taking place on the night of May 9-10 in Newark, New Jersey. This event marks a significant moment in the middleweight division, as it features a clash between a former champion looking to reclaim his throne and the current titleholder defending his newly acquired belt.
Khamzat Chimaev enters the octagon riding the momentum of his most recent victory, where he defeated South African athlete Dricus du Plessis via unanimous decision to capture the middleweight title. That performance solidified his position at the top of the division and set the stage for this high-stakes defense against a familiar and dangerous opponent.
Sean Strickland, meanwhile, secured his path back to title contention with an impressive knockout victory over Anthony Hernandez in his last outing. The win demonstrated his continued knockout power and ability to finish fights, earning him another shot at the championship he once held.
The weigh-in incident and Strickland's fiery comments have added an extra layer of drama to an already compelling championship matchup. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how this personal conflict translates into the fighters' strategies and intensity once the cage door closes on fight night.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.
