The UFC is taking extraordinary steps to keep champion Khamzat Chimaev and challenger Sean Strickland apart prior to their middleweight title clash at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey this weekend.
The already-tense build-up reached boiling point last week when Strickland threatened to shoot Chimaev and members of his team if they confronted him in the street.
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Chimaev responded in kind, branding the American “a clown” and warning he would quickly be “dead” if he truly escalated things outside the cage.
For its part, the UFC has tightened security and taken steps to ensure the pair don’t cross paths ahead of fight night.
But keeping them apart may prove easier said than done.
Strickland has already suggested he’s prepared to defy those safety measures – even if it lands him in “handcuffs”.
“The UFC is trying to limit my interactions with the dog,” he wrote on X.
“If I find there is unequal treatment between our camps, I will walk to the lobby and wait for him.”
ROOTS OF THE RIVALRY
It might be hard to believe, but the two fighters once had a positive working relationship while training together at the Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas in late 2021.
The undefeated (15-0) “Chechen Wolf” — who was born in Russia, grew up there and in Sweden, and now represents the UAE — claims Strickland’s attitude toward him changed after Chimaev made him tap repeatedly during sparring sessions.
He also alleges Strickland brought a gun to the gym following a previous disagreement.
Strickland, however, offers a different version of events, insisting he allowed Chimaev to submit him in training, while accusing the current 185lb title-holder of being a gym bully.
“Let me tell you about this little b**h,” Strickland said. “Every time Chimaev would walk in the gym, he would pick the smallest, lowest-level pro and say, ‘But oh, he looks like my opponent’ … He would pick the smallest guy. Chimaev’s a f**king bully.”
COACH’S EYE VIEW
Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, says the exact moment the relationship broke down remains unclear.
“Honestly, I thought they got along really well,” he told the Uncrowned website.
“I felt like it was more of a competitive environment than anything, so where it kind of took a turn, I honestly couldn’t tell you.”
Nicksick has cornered Strickland through high-profile clashes against Israel Adesanya and Dricus du Plessis, and has heard his share of trash talk, but he admits the atmosphere around this bout is unusual.
“This has a different vibe, different feel to it. It really does,” he said. “I think there’s just this competitive nature between the two of these guys … like there’s more emotions that are riding on this than the title is important to them.
“I think it’s more about bragging rights.”
COULD THEY “HUG IT OUT”?
Strickland says he can’t see himself ever breaking bread with Chimaev again, no matter what happens in the main event at UFC 328, insisting they will “die enemies”.
The 30-7 veteran has had beefs with other fighters over the years that have been at least partly squashed following them meeting in the Octagon, but the American insists that won’t be the case this time.
“The s**tty thing is that whoever wins is going to have bragging rights, and whoever doesn’t is just going to have to f**king eat s**t until they die,” Strickland told the media last week.
“But nah dude, I think me and [Khamzat], we die enemies.”
THE LEAD UP TO THE BIG DANCE
Strickland delivered one of his best performances in years at UFC Houston against Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez to thrust himself back into title contention.
The American went on an expletive-laden tirade in the press conference, taking aim at boring fighters [including Khamzat] in the sport.
“Chimaev probably gets off the bench,” he said in regards to his next fight.
“I’d like to piece that little Chechen wh**e.
“You never know with him. You never know with that guy, but that’s what I want.”
Strickland has long criticised Chimaev’s inactivity in the promotion and his close friendship with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
“I think I’m probably the only one that could beat Chimaev,” Strickland said.
“It’s kind of weird what the UFC did with Chimaev. You brought a guy that fights once a year — the guy doesn’t need to fight. He’s best friends with a warlord.”
THE CHAMP RESPONDS
Despite the intensity of Strickland’s comments, Chimaev has appeared unfazed, even amused.
“I don’t know. We’ll see what’s going to happen over there. For me, the same sh*t,” Chimaev told press on Thursday.
“Clowns always talk… Bro, he didn’t shoot any chickens… How is he going to shoot the human?”
Furthermore, Chimaev believes their training history still tells the story.
“He never had success with me… I was fighting 170 that time… So imagine I beat him on that weight and was cutting the weight and I beat him.
“So, right now, people know how big I am, how hungry I am. So, it’s good meat. I like white American chicken.
“My plan is just go there, beat him up, take the money and go home.”
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UFC WON’T TAKE THE RISK
While some fans might believe there’s no way either man will potentially throw away their career by doing something stupid prior to fight night, the UFC isn’t taking any chances.
They certainly won’t have forgotten the 2018 incident in which UFC superstar Conor McGregor and his entourage attacked a bus full of fighters that included Khabib Nurmagomedov, with whom he had a heated rivalry.
Not only will Strickland and Chimaev (and their teams) be staying in separate hotels with extra security, according to UFC President Dana White, there will be no on-stage face-offs between the two in the leadup.
But will it be enough?