Sean Strickland is set to face Khamzat Chimaev for the UFC middleweight title at UFC 328 on May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. While the two fighters have exchanged heated words publicly, Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, says the relationship between the two was very different when Chimaev visited the Xtreme Couture gym.
“Honestly, I Thought They Got Along Really Well”
According to Nicksick, the two fighters had a mostly competitive dynamic in training.
“Honestly, I thought they got along really well,” Nicksick told The Ariel Helwani Show. “I thought they pushed each other really well. I felt like it was more of a competitive environment than anything. Where it kind of took a turn, I honestly couldn’t tell you… For me, it was like – take this opportunity to learn as much as you can from Khamzat—some of his routes, some of the things he does really well on the ground—and just be a student when he’s in here and listen, learn, and observe the way he trains.”
Nicksick emphasized that both fighters were challenging each other in a way that helped them improve.
Outside the gym, tensions have grown between the two fighters. Strickland has repeatedly criticized Chimaev, claiming that the champion is stalling the division. Chimaev has responded by saying that Strickland’s complaints come from being submitted during sparring.
Strickland, however, maintains that his submission in sparring was situational and that he otherwise dominated Chimaev in the gym.
