Dominick Cruz believes UFC 328 fight week could look very different if tensions between headliners Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland keep rising.
UFC 328 is set to feature a five-round title fight between Chimaev and Strickland on May 9, 2026, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The buildup has already turned hostile, with the two exchanging death threats ahead of their clash.
Cruz, a former UFC champion and current fight night commentator, said he doesn’t expect the promotion to take any chances when it comes to fight week staredowns.
"I doubt they’ll have face offs," Cruz said, pointing directly to the heated rhetoric between the fighters. "If they’re saying that, why would you have a face off? Why would you even take the risk if you’re Dana (White) with these two guys? Kind of like ‘DC’ and Jones and you could have another one of those situations where they just scrap and knock everything off the table. I don’t think they’re faking, I think they’re just talking crazy because they’re making sure you know: Don’t test me. That’s what’s been put out. ‘Don’t test me or I’ll do it.’ And UFC will say, ‘Okay, we’re going to listen. Bring the security out.’"
The UFC previously instituted a ban on physical exchanges during staredowns after a 2014 media day altercation between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier. According to the article, that ban has not yet been enforced.
