![Khamzat Chimaev mocks Sean Strickland's threats ahead of UFC 328: ``If he wanted[a real war]he would be dead a long time ago.''](https://sportingnewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Khamzat-Chimaev-mocks-Sean-Stricklands-threats-ahead-of-UFC-328-860x449.jpg)
Do not count on middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev to just accept Sean Strickland’s threats of violence forward of his title struggle at UFC 328.
As a consequence of their bitter rivalry, UFC CEO Dana White has already stated the promotion has elevated safety and is doing every thing attainable to stop Chimaev and Strickland from getting right into a fist struggle earlier than they really meet within the Octagon. However Strickland took issues to an entire new stage when he stated he would pack his warmth and carry a gun in case he received jumped earlier than the sport or in case of an unpleasant confrontation with Chimaev and his crew.
Chimaev believes Strickland is simply barking and never biting, so he isn’t too nervous if one thing like that occurs.
“Clowns at all times discuss,” Chimaev informed reporters on the pre-fight media scrum at UFC 328. “If he stays quiet, he will not be a clown. He is by no means shot a rooster on the earth, so how is he going to shoot a human?”
Chimaev does not perceive Strickland making an attempt to trigger bother earlier than the struggle, however even when he did, the Chechen-born brawler feels it would not finish effectively for him.
That is why Chimaev is simply chalking all this as much as Strickland and letting his mouth slip as common, and that is all he’ll do heading into the primary occasion this Saturday in Newark, New Jersey.
“I do not suppose this man needs an actual warfare exterior the cage,” Chimaev stated. “If he wished[a real war]he would already be useless.
“In New Jersey, this can be a Muslim group and that is my residence. I do not suppose he would come there with a gun. In any other case, lots of people would get damage due to him being there.”
Earlier than his latest threats of gun violence, Strickland centered a lot of his pre-fight trash discuss on previous coaching classes with Chimaev, who practiced collectively at Excessive Couture in Las Vegas.
One of many causes Strickland is assured he can regain the UFC middleweight title is due to the frequency with which he dominated Chimaev in observe classes. Sparring within the fitness center will not be combating within the Octagon, however Strickland has already spent sufficient time within the cage with Chimaev that he feels he is aware of precisely what’s going to occur once they lastly conflict.
The truth is, Strickland’s claims that he had dominated Chimaev prior to now received an even bigger response from the UFC middleweight champion than his risk to come back after him with a gun.
“He by no means had success with me,” Chimaev stated. “It will not be any completely different this time. At the moment I used to be combating at 170. Think about beating him at that weight. And I used to be slicing weight after which I beat him.”
“Now folks know the way massive I’m. They know the way hungry I’m. Good meat. I like white American rooster.”
Strickland has pissed off lots of his opponents prior to now, and he is more likely to step up his nasty feedback in the direction of Chimaev once they lastly meet throughout struggle week. The UFC 328 press convention scheduled for Thursday would be the good alternative for Strickland to say one thing loopy to get Chimaev offended.
Pre-fight trash discuss is nothing new, however Chimaev has vowed to not let anybody’s phrases have an effect on how he fights, and in reality he welcomes Strickland to get even crazier as a result of it makes his job rather a lot simpler.
“I like his story,” Chimaev stated of Strickland. “He is particular person to me. I am not nervous about what I must say. He speaks for everybody. I hope he speaks extra. It is fascinating to hearken to this man.”
