The fight has not even started yet,
but the tension between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland already seems completely out of control.
—
During the UFC 328 press conference,
both fighters exchanged insults,
provocations
and threats in front of the crowd.
—
The situation escalated during the final faceoff.
Khamzat Chimaev suddenly threw a kick
toward Sean Strickland’s leg,
immediately creating chaos on stage.
—
Security members,
police officers
and even Dana White
had to intervene quickly
to stop the situation from getting worse.
—
According to several MMA media reports,
the tension between both fighters
has been building for weeks.
The build-up to the fight
has already included:
—
Sean Strickland,
the former UFC middleweight champion known for controversial trash talk,
reportedly continued making personal attacks
toward Chimaev and his entourage.
—
Meanwhile,
Khamzat Chimaev remains undefeated
in professional MMA,
with a perfect record heading into UFC 328.
He is expected to defend his middleweight title
against Strickland
during the event’s main fight this Saturday in Newark.
—
The atmosphere has now become so tense
that some MMA analysts believe
the UFC could reduce future faceoffs
between the two fighters
before the official fight night.
—
Across Reddit,
Discord
and MMA social media,
many fans already consider this rivalry
one of the most explosive feuds
in recent UFC history.
Some are even comparing it
to the biggest rivalries
of the modern MMA era.
—
One thing is certain:
before even stepping inside the cage,
Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland
have already started the psychological war.
