UFC 328 Press Conference Erupts into Chaos
UFC 328 went off the rails before the event even got started.
During the Thursday press conference, Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland turned a typical promotional event into something that felt more like a street brawl.
It was, quite frankly, a spectacle for UFC fans.
Strickland has never shied away from expressing his contempt for opponents, and on this occasion, the tension reached a boiling point.
He vocally criticized both the heavy security presence and Chimaev’s character, saying, “No, it makes no sense to let a Neanderthal into this country who can’t even spend five days with you.”
He didn’t stop there; Strickland mocked Chimaev, who refused to engage in a fight right there in the parking lot. “I knew you were a coward. You lack dignity. You’re not even a real man,” he exclaimed.
In response, Chimaev maintained his focus was purely on the financial aspects of the fight. “I’m here to make money. I just want to beat someone up and go home happy,” he stated.
Earlier in the day, Chimaev had dismissed any notions of a pre-fight altercation, claiming, “They won’t let me meet this guy, so I don’t think anything will happen.”
But Dana White quickly contradicted that prediction. When asked about the likelihood of a face-off, the UFC head said, “Absolutely.” He encouraged both fighters as they took to the stage, urging them to “do well.”
Chimaev locked eyes with Strickland and assured him, “I won’t touch you.” But just moments later, Chimaev kicked at Strickland, sparking a huge melee.
Strickland criticized the incident on social media, branding it “cowardly behavior,” which hardly came as a surprise to him.
He also warned fans about Chimaev’s wrestling style, suggesting it leads to lackluster fights. “Who wants to see these guys turn into dry cobs? You’re like a characterless, disgusting piece of work for a champion,” Strickland said.
Chimaev, for his part, expressed hope that Strickland would make it to the cage healthy: “I hope he’s not injured and has no excuse when I hit him.”
The anticipation is building as fans look forward to the main event, set for May 9, 2026, in Newark, New Jersey, with the main card beginning at 9:00 PM ET.
