Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland are taking a messy road into UFC 328. Strickland has been throwing out threats and old gym claims, and Chimaev used his new TheMacLife interview to answer both without dressing it up.
Strickland enters the matchup as a former UFC middleweight champion with a 30-7 MMA record. He last fought on February 21, 2026, when he stopped Anthony Hernandez by third-round TKO at UFC Fight Night 267.
Chimaev enters as the current UFC middleweight champion with an unbeaten 15-0 record. His most recent fight came at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025, where he defeated Dricus du Plessis by unanimous decision to win the title.
Asked if Strickland’s talk made the fight feel more personal, Chimaev answered with two sharp lines.
“Clowns always talk. He’s not going to be a clown if he’s quiet.”
Watch the interview below:
Strickland’s gun warning also came up. Chimaev mocked the idea that Strickland would actually shoot anyone.
“Bro, he didn’t shoot any chickens in the world, bro. How we going to shoot the human?”
He continued with another answer about trouble outside the cage.
“I don’t think the guy wants a real war outside of the cage.”
When New Jersey was mentioned, Chimaev brought up the local Muslim community.
“In New Jersey is Muslim community. It’s my home. So, I don’t think so. He going to come out with the guns there.”
Chimaev Rejects Strickland’s Old Training Claim
Chimaev also pushed back on Strickland’s version of their past training sessions.
“He never had success with me.”
Chimaev placed those sessions during his welterweight run.
“I was fighting 170 that time. Imagine I beat him on that weight and was cutting the weight and at that time I beat him. So right now people know how big I am, how hungry I am.”
Asked if Strickland’s upright stance and footwork could make takedowns easier, Chimaev answered directly.
“It should be. It was easy.”
He also pointed back to their previous work together.
“We trained five years ago. I don’t think he’s changed. So, we’ll see.”
Chimaev treated Strickland’s trash talk as useful promotion rather than a distraction.
“I like his talking. It’s good for me. I don’t need to work about like I need to talk. He’s talking for everyone.”
He also tied the buildup to the money around the fight.
“I love it. I love the UFC. I love Sean Strickland, what they talking about, you know, making big fight, let him make money.”
Asked for a final message, Chimaev kept it on the same track.
“I actually hope you’re going to talk more. It’s funny to listen to this guy.”
Chimaev did not call a specific finish, but he made clear that he wants the fight to end before the judges get involved.
“For sure I need to finish him.”
His simplest line came when he described the plan for Strickland.
“Just go there, beat them up, and take the money, go home.”
Strickland has built his UFC career on pressure, volume, and uncomfortable exchanges. Chimaev has built his on forcing opponents into grappling-heavy fights they cannot control, which keeps the UFC 328 debate around Chimaev vs. Strickland focused on whether Strickland can stay upright long enough to make the champion pay.
