Elevated Security for UFC 328 Due to Tensions

The atmosphere is charged ahead of UFC 328 at the Prudential Center, with heightened security in place.

This tension largely stems from the back-and-forth between the main event fighters, Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland. It all escalated when Chimaev jokingly suggested he might confront Strickland with his friends in the hotel lobby. Chimaev, based in Las Vegas, went as far as to mention using the “stand your ground” law to justify his potential actions against Strickland and his entourage.

As Chimaev (15-0, 12 finishes) prepares for his first defense of the middleweight title against former champion Strickland (30-7, 16 finishes) on Saturday, police from Morristown, New Jersey, have increased their presence to prevent any unauthorized confrontations.

“This isn’t my first experience with security,” Strickland remarked confidently during a media day. “We’ve had secure events before, but this is probably the safest we’ve been.”

Strickland claims that, despite being able to coexist with Chimaev in public, he feels threatened by the prospect of a possible encounter with Chimaev’s 30-strong entourage. Adding to the complication, some Americans are frustrated with New Jersey’s strict gun laws, which limit their ability to defend themselves.

In light of this, the UFC has ramped up its security measures to maintain peace leading up to the fight.

Chimaev suggested that Strickland was relocated to a different hotel than where the rest of the fighters are staying. “Some people say they saw him run away after the media obligations,” Chimaev commented. “He keeps claiming he’ll do this and that to me, but I’m not sure why he’s staying elsewhere.”

When Strickland finishes his media duties, police ensure that he is safe, especially considering his history of inflammatory comments regarding his opponents, which he delivers with a distinctive tone.

Chimaev seems to find some humor in Strickland’s provocative remarks about self-defense. Yet, the UFC remains vigilant, aware of the significant impact of inflammatory rhetoric.

“I don’t think he could actually shoot me,” Chimaev stated, further expressing frustration about not being allowed to meet Strickland. “I’ve been here for three days; if he wants to threaten me, I say, let’s do this. I’m ready for anything.”

Other fighters on the card are also mindful of security protocols to ensure the week proceeds smoothly.

“It’s like being in a movie,” Hirataro, who will compete in the co-main event against flyweight champion Joshua Bunn, said through an interpreter.

As the week unfolds, Chimaev and Strickland will interact only a couple of times: during Thursday’s press conference and Friday’s weigh-in. The level of tension during these encounters could dictate how much additional security may be needed.

Strickland voiced his belief that violence wouldn’t disrupt the upcoming fight, despite concerns about the possible fallout from their harsh words. “No, no, of course not,” he reiterated. “The UFC has invested too much to let that happen, and losing millions would be a big deal for them. Right now, they’re just trying to safeguard that investment, but everything seems under control.”