Dominick Cruz has weighed in on the rising hostility between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland ahead of their middleweight title clash at UFC 328 on May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) and Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) are set for a high-stakes showdown, but the tension has already spiked after Strickland publicly said he would use a gun against Chimaev and his team if they got physical with him during fight week. Chimaev responded that Strickland would be "dead" if he attempted that, while adding he prefers to punish him in the octagon.
Cruz, a UFC Hall of Famer and commentator, framed the situation as a product of the moment. "I think this is just fight week pressure and they both have an image to uphold, and both of them are going to flex bigger than the other one because that's the personality they're trying to bring," he said.
"They can't start being nice now. You know what I mean? They've got to be the crazy guys. And now they're going to out-crazy each other to see who's tougher," Cruz added, calling it "just a show" while also noting, "the nerves of the fight going to the death is real. Two things can be true at the same time."
Cruz also suggested the UFC could rethink traditional staredowns. "I doubt they'll have faceoffs, right?" he said, questioning, "Why would you even take the risk if you're Dana with these two guys?"
