Khamzat Chimaev has shared a video clip from a 2022 sparring session with Sean Strickland, accompanied by the caption “I am bullying weak people.” This footage, recorded during their time training together at Xtreme Couture, emerges as tensions between the two fighters intensify just before UFC 328, scheduled for Saturday night at the Prudential Center in Newark.
The sparring encounter itself has been a recurring point of dispute between Chimaev and Strickland, with both fighters offering conflicting accounts of who emerged victorious. Strickland has previously insinuated that Chimaev favors sparring with less experienced partners in controlled environments to boost his confidence. By releasing this footage now, Chimaev appears to be directly confronting these accusations, using a sarcastic tone in his caption.
The animosity between the fighters has extended beyond typical pre-fight trash talk. Strickland notably stated his intention to carry a firearm to fighter hotel appearances, suggesting he would confront Chimaev if he perceived any unequal treatment between their camps. In response, UFC CEO Dana White announced enhanced security measures. Chimaev, however, dismissed Strickland’s threats during a pre-fight press conference, labeling him a “clown” and questioning his sincerity.
This rivalry is further complicated by their shared history. Having trained under the same roof and emerged from similar circles, a familiarity has developed that has unfortunately bred contempt rather than mutual respect. Neither fighter has public witnesses to corroborate their versions of the sparring incident, leaving their competing claims largely as anecdotal. This ambiguity has not prevented either fighter from using the memory as a psychological weapon leading up to their bout.
The release of the sparring footage appears to be Chimaev’s attempt to control the narrative heading into Saturday’s event. However, initial fan reactions suggest this move may have backfired in some circles. Regardless, both fighters enter UFC 328 with legitimate grievances and a shared history that has evolved into genuine animosity.
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Watch: Khamzat Chimaev Shares Sparring Clip With Sean Strickland as UFC 328 Tensions Escalate
Khamzat Chimaev released video footage on May 5th from a sparring session with Sean Strickland, captioning the post “I am bullying weak people.” The clip stems from their 2022 training days at Xtreme Couture, where the two once worked together regularly. With UFC 328 scheduled for Saturday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, the footage marks another escalation in what’s become one of the sport’s most contentious rivalries.
The sparring session itself has been a point of contention between the two fighters for years. Chimaev and Strickland have painted competing narratives about what happened on the mats, each claiming they dominated the exchange. Strickland has previously suggested that Chimaev gravitates toward less experienced or younger training partners to build his confidence in controlled settings. By releasing the footage now, Chimaev appears to be addressing those accusations directly, using Strickland’s own words against him through the caption’s sarcasm.
The tensions surrounding this matchup have spilled well beyond typical fight week banter. Strickland went so far as to post on social media that he plans to carry a gun to fighter hotel appearances, claiming he would confront Chimaev if he detects unequal treatment between their camps. In response, UFC CEO Dana White implemented heightened security measures. Chimaev later dismissed Strickland’s threats at a pre-fight press scrum, calling him “a clown” and questioning his credibility.
The backstory adds layers to their conflict. The two trained under the same roof and came up through similar circles, creating a familiarity that has bred contempt rather than camaraderie. Neither fighter has backing from witnesses willing to publicly confirm their version of the sparring story, leaving much of their competing claims as he-said, he-said accounts. That ambiguity hasn’t stopped either from weaponizing the memory in their pre-fight psychology.
The footage release shows Chimaev’s attempt to control the narrative heading into Saturday, though fan reactions suggest the move may have backfired in some quarters. Either way, both men enter UFC 328 with legitimate grievances and a shared history that has morphed into genuine animosity.