UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev puts his title on the line Saturday night against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey, in a fight that has been as contentious outside the cage as it promises to be inside it.
The UFC has deployed extra security at the event to keep the two fighters separated before their scheduled bout. The level of animosity between Chimaev and Strickland leading into fight week has been unusual even by UFC standards, with analysts raising the question of whether an incident might occur before the two men even reach the Octagon.
Strickland has spent fight week directing a string of provocations at Chimaev, including what Yahoo Sports described as "fresh bestiality claims regarding goats." In a separate interview, Strickland called UFC CEO Dana White a "narcissist," a "sociopath," and "just a plain old sick f***." Whether that kind of commentary works in his favor with the UFC's promotional machine is a matter of debate among observers.
A roundtable preview published by Yahoo Sports examined the question of which fighter the UFC would prefer to see win from a business standpoint. The analysis was divided. Strickland's outspoken persona has made him one of the most discussed fighters on the roster, and his presence on UFC's Paramount partnership was flagged as financially significant. Chimaev, by contrast, is considered one of the most talented fighters in the world but has fought infrequently, roughly once a year in recent history.
Former player and commentator Petesy noted that Strickland had built his profile in part by manufacturing conflict with opponents, pointing to his UFC 293 campaign against Israel Adesanya as an earlier example of the same strategy. At that fight, Strickland made a series of pointed personal attacks against Adesanya in the buildup. The approach worked then in terms of generating attention, and a similar dynamic is playing out now.
The co-main event adds another title fight to the card: Joshua Van defends the flyweight belt against Japan's Tatsuro Taira, a matchup that analysts are also watching closely.
Chimaev has not held back in the lead-up either. The bad blood between the two fighters has been described across multiple previews as genuine rather than promotional, which has added to concerns about what might happen in the days before Saturday's weigh-ins and walkouts. UFC officials are clearly taking no chances given the security measures in place.
Saturday's card begins in Newark, with the main event expected later in the evening. By Sunday morning, the middleweight division will have a new result to build around.
