Overview
- Chimaev posted a brief 2022 sparring clip with Strickland on Tuesday, showing light striking and drawing mockery from many fans who called it unimpressive.
- He brushed off Strickland’s gun threat at a fight‑week scrum, saying he would be “happy to die,” while noting he has been kept away from the challenger.
- The UFC beefed up protocols for fight week, scrapping face‑offs, assigning separate hotels, and adding extra law enforcement to keep the bout intact.
- Betting markets price Chimaev as a heavy favorite for Saturday’s main event in Newark, though analysts say the matchup could hinge on whether he can take and hold Strickland down in round one.
- Years of shared training at Xtreme Couture and clashing accounts of that sparring have fueled a personal feud now driving a narrative battle into UFC 328 fight week.