Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland were supposed to trade words one final time before UFC 328. Instead, the press conference in Newark turned into a volatile scene that nearly spun out of control right in front of UFC CEO Dana White.Long before the fighters stood face-to-face, the atmosphere inside Prudential Center already felt tense. Security officers lined the stage, armed police remained nearby, and UFC officials appeared ready for trouble from the opening minute. That caution proved justified. What started as verbal sparring quickly escalated once the rivals moved closer, adding another layer of hostility to a rivalry that has become deeply personal in recent months.
Khamzat Chimaev kicks Sean Strickland right in front of Dana White at UFC press conference
The confrontation exploded during the traditional staredown segment on Thursday afternoon. White could be heard telling both fighters to “be good, guys,” moments before chaos broke loose.Chimaev and Strickland immediately exchanged insults once they came face-to-face, with multiple security guards already separating them. Chimaev shouted, “I am a terrorist for him. I’m gonna take off his head. I’m gonna kill him!” after reacting to comments previously made by Strickland.At one point, Chimaev appeared to calm the situation by saying, “I’m not going to touch you,” while Strickland fired back, “You ain’t going to do s***.”Seconds later, Chimaev suddenly threw a kick toward Strickland’s lower body. It remains unclear exactly where the kick landed, but Strickland stumbled backward as security rushed in to separate both men. White stood only inches away as the scene occurred.The buildup has carried an unusually dark tone all week. The two former training partners traded insults involving politics, religion, nationality, and personal beliefs throughout the event. Even White admitted afterward that the tension inside the room was impossible to ignore.“It is what it is,” White said when asked about the intensity in the room.
Sean Strickland reacts to Khamzat Chimaev’s action
After security pulled both men apart, Strickland continued shouting toward Chimaev and could be heard yelling, “You b****, you coward!” Later, Strickland took to X, “Exactly what I expected a coward to do.”The former middleweight champion later addressed the altercation on social media, keeping the rivalry alive just two days before the title fight. Despite the physical moment on stage, UFC officials have given no indication that the main event is in danger.White, unsurprisingly, showed little regret about allowing the staredown to happen in the first place.“Absolutely,” White said earlier when asked if the fighters would still face off despite the hostility. He later joked, “According to my therapist, I’m a sociopath. Why would I not have a face-off?”Saturday’s fight now carries even more heat than before. Chimaev enters UFC 328 undefeated and heavily favored after winning the middleweight title from Dricus du Plessis last year. Strickland, meanwhile, appears more motivated than ever after Thursday’s chaotic scene added fresh emotion to an already bitter matchup.
