Khamzat Chimaev is unfazed by Sean Strickland’s recent threats.
Chimaev is preparing for the first defense of his middleweight championship against Strickland at UFC 328, scheduled for May 9th at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The buildup to their fight has been marked by increasingly intense verbal exchanges, suggesting a genuine personal animosity. Most recently, the former UFC middleweight champion escalated the situation by stating he would shoot anyone who approached him with malicious intent, a response to Chimaev’s earlier comment that he would “run away” if confronted before their bout.
However, Khamzat Chimaev appears largely unconcerned by Sean Strickland’s remarks.
Khamzat Chimaev Reacts to Sean Strickland’s Shooting Threats Leading Up to UFC 328
During a recent media availability session for UFC 328, Khamzat Chimaev downplayed Sean Strickland’s gun threats, exhibiting no signs of apprehension while simultaneously issuing his own warning.
“I don’t know. We’ll see what happens. For me, it’s the same sh*t,” Chimaev stated. “Clowns always talk. He wouldn’t be a clown if he stayed quiet… Bro, he hasn’t shot any chickens in the world, bro. How is he going to shoot a human? I don’t know. I don’t think so. If the guy wants a real war outside of the cage, and if he wanted it, he would be dead already.”
To mitigate any potential incidents, UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed that security measures will be heightened throughout UFC 328 fight week to ensure the two fighters remain separated until their octagon encounter. Consequently, a planned pre-fight face-off with Paramount has been canceled to prevent any further escalation, given the heated history between the competitors.
“Borz” boasts an undefeated 9-0 record in the Octagon, with notable victories over Robert Whittaker, Kamaru Usman, and Gilbert Burns. Chimaev’s most recent performance was at UFC 319 in August 2025, where he secured the middleweight crown from Dricus Du Plessis via unanimous decision.
Strickland, on the other hand, enters the fight on the heels of a knockout victory against Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston in February. He holds a 17-7 record in the promotion, with significant wins against Paulo Costa, Israel Adesanya, and Nassourdine Imavov.
