UFC Tightens Security as Chimaev–Strickland Feud Escalates Before UFC 328

Overview

• UFC officials increased security and restricted contact between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland after threats circulated in media and online posts.
• Sean Strickland said he would pull a gun if approached by Chimaev’s group and referred to the champion as a “third world dog” in an X post.
• Khamzat Chimaev brushed off the threats in a media scrum and mocked Strickland on X by posting an old photo and calling him a “girl.”
• The middleweight title fight tops UFC 328 at Prudential Center in Newark on May 9 with Chimaev defending against the former champion.
• The rivalry turned personal after prior training sessions and Strickland’s claims tying Chimaev to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.