WATCH: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland press conference highlights and faceoff
UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev and former titleholder Sean Strickland stole the show at the UFC 328 press conference.
Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland are hours away from clashing inside the Octagon at UFC 328. But before the action transpired in the cage, Chimaev and Strickland had quite the battle on the microphones at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference.
After winning the UFC middleweight title last year at UFC 319, Chimaev will face the former titleholder Strickland in the UFC 328 main event this Saturday in Newark. The fight will come to fruition after years of bad blood between the two former training partners at Xtreme Couture.
UFC CEO Dana White promised a high security presence throughout UFC 328 fight week. Halfway through the week, Chimaev and Strickland were successfully kept away from each other, but that all changed at the press conference.
With a vocal fan base in attendance, and an intense atmosphere in Newark, Chimaev and Strickland finally got the chance to trade barbs in person ahead of fight night.
HIGHLIGHTS | Khamzat Chimaev, Sean Strickland trade barbs at UFC 328 presser
Check out some of the wildest moments from the UFC 328 press conference between Chimaev and Strickland below.
Just as Chimaev walked on to the stage, he and Strickland had to quickly be separated by security before the first question was asked by the media members in attendance.
PRESS CONFERENCE OFF TO A HOT START #UFC328 | SAT May 9 | 9pm ET on @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/VXijdmRka0
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) May 7, 2026
Things quickly turned personal between Chimaev and Strickland, especially after White declared their rivalry to be Top 3 in UFC history.
Saturday can’t come soon enough 😤@KChimaev vs @SStricklandMMA
[ #UFC328 | MAY 9 | 9pmET | LIVE on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/ZGRuAPOC4G
— UFC (@ufc) May 7, 2026
🤬 Sean Strickland goes off at Khamzat Chimaev for almost retiring during COVID:
“His dad Ali called him and told him to comeback and make him money. You let the common cold retire you.”
⚡️ Strickalnd: “Let me tell you about Chimaev.”
⚡️Khamzat: “Tell us about your daddy.”
🎥 UFC pic.twitter.com/SNe5kCvvwg
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 7, 2026
Wherever it goes 🤝 @SStricklandMMA
[ #UFC328 | MAY 9 | 9pmET | LIVE on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/S4jHKgw3zB
— UFC (@ufc) May 7, 2026
🎥 @ufc pic.twitter.com/34guZMEKzp
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 7, 2026
Similar to what Dricus du Plessis did against Strickland at the UFC 297 press conference, Chimaev invoked Strickland’s tumultuous childhood into pre-fight trash talk.
Sean Strickland got PISSED after Khamzat Chimaev talked about his dad 😳
🗣️ Strickland: “You need to get the f*ck out of America.”
🗣️ Khamzat: “Who you talking to? America loves me bro, you’re a b*tch nobody loves you. Only your daddy loves you. He beats you up I’m gonna beat… https://t.co/feD70eGe6R pic.twitter.com/Lqzdxd59Aw
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 7, 2026
After Strickland promised to ‘shoot’ Chimaev and his team if they collided in a pre-fight altercation, Chimaev challenged the former titleholder to make good on his words.
“SHOOT ME, B*TCH!”
Khamzat Chimaev went THERE with Sean Strickland. 😳 #UFC328 pic.twitter.com/2npvLHa7jJ
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) May 7, 2026
UFC 328 press conference faceoff
With tens of security personnel on stage, Chimaev and Strickland finally came face-to-face, but chaos nearly ensued after Chimaev threw a kick mid-staredown.
🚨 KHAMZAT CHIMAEV KICKED SEAN STRICKLAND DURING THEIR FIRST FACE OFF AND THEY HAD TO BE SEPARATED
OH MY GOD THIS IS INSANE 😭 #UFC328 pic.twitter.com/vzOyRqiAFr
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 7, 2026
What is your prediction for Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland? Let us know in the comments!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
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Khamzat Chimaev Sean Strickland UFC Videos
