Sean Strickland says the UFC is stepping in to keep him and Khamzat Chimaev apart ahead of their UFC 328 middleweight title fight in Newark, and he’s not happy about it.
Strickland is scheduled to challenge the undefeated Chimaev for the 185-pound belt on May 9 in the UFC 328 headliner at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The 35-year-old contender previously told reporters he would bring a gun to Newark and shoot Chimaev if Chimaev and his team approached him during fight week. Chimaev responded by telling reporters that Strickland "will be dead" if he followed through on the threat.
Strickland later posted on X that UFC officials are trying to limit his interactions with Chimaev. "The UFC is trying to limit my interactions with the dog," Strickland wrote, before escalating his criticism. "Listen I will say this now. I will not be controlled by a third world dog.... If I find there is unequal treatment between our camps I will walk to the lobby and wait for him." He added, "Control your whore or dont. I dont care. Let the chips fall where they may this is America..."
Strickland enters UFC 328 after losing the 185-pound title to Dricus Du Plessis in January 2024 and failing to regain it in a February 2025 rematch. Chimaev, meanwhile, is going for his first title defense after winning the belt with a dominant victory over Du Plessis last August.
