Khamzat Chimaev appears unfazed by the escalating verbal sparring with his upcoming opponent, Sean Strickland. Chimaev is scheduled to defend his middleweight title against Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9th at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The pre-fight trash talk between “Borz” and Strickland has become increasingly personal. Recently, the former middleweight champion, Strickland, intensified the situation by stating he would shoot anyone who approached him with malicious intent, a response to Chimaev’s earlier claim that Strickland would “run away” before their bout.
However, Khamzat Chimaev remains unperturbed by Strickland’s pronouncements.
Khamzat Chimaev Responds to Sean Strickland’s Shooting Threats Before UFC 328
During a media availability for UFC 328, Khamzat Chimaev downplayed Sean Strickland’s gun threats, showing no apprehension and delivering his own chilling warning.
“We’ll see what happens. For me, it’s the same,” Chimaev stated. “Clowns always talk. He wouldn’t be a clown if he was quiet. He hasn’t shot any chickens in his life, how is he going to shoot a human? I don’t think so. If the guy wants a real fight outside the cage, and he wants it, he would already be dead.”
To mitigate any potential incidents, UFC CEO Dana White has announced increased security measures throughout UFC 328 fight week to keep the two fighters separated until their Octagon encounter. Consequently, a planned pre-fight faceoff with Paramount has been canceled to avoid further escalation, given the intense animosity between the fighters.
“Borz” has an undefeated record in the UFC, boasting a 9-0 run with notable victories over Robert Whittaker, Kamaru Usman, and Gilbert Burns. Chimaev secured the middleweight championship in his last fight at UFC 319 in August 2025, defeating Dricus Du Plessis by unanimous decision.
Strickland 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.