The tension between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev has officially boiled over ahead of their highly anticipated UFC 328 main event. Following a contentious staredown that turned physical, Strickland took to social media to voice his reaction to the incident.
During the traditional face-off between the two middleweight fighters, what began as an intense verbal exchange quickly escalated. Chimaev, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, reportedly kicked Strickland during the confrontation, adding fuel to an already fiery rivalry.
Strickland, the former division champion, wasted no time addressing the situation. On his official page on the social media platform X, he posted a pointed message directed at his upcoming opponent. "This is exactly what I expected from a coward," Strickland wrote, making his feelings about Chimaev's actions clear.
The incident sets the stage for what promises to be an explosive main event clash. UFC 328 is scheduled to take place during the night from May 9th to May 10th in Newark, New Jersey, with the Strickland vs. Chimaev bout serving as the card's headliner.
Both fighters enter this championship contest riding momentum from recent victories. Chimaev captured the middleweight title in his most recent outing, defeating South African athlete Dricus du Plessis by unanimous decision. That dominant performance earned him the belt and established him as the division's top fighter.
Strickland, meanwhile, is coming off an impressive knockout victory over Anthony Hernandez. That finish demonstrated the former champion's continued knockout power and his ability to compete at the highest level of the middleweight division.
The pre-fight altercation has only heightened anticipation for this championship showdown. With both men clearly harboring animosity toward one another, fans can expect an intense and potentially volatile encounter when they finally step into the octagon together.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.