The beef between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland has become one of the ugliest feuds the UFC has seen in years. According to Dana White, it belongs near the top of the all-time list.
Chimaev and Strickland will headline UFC 328 on Saturday night for the middleweight title that has carried tension for weeks. The two fighters traded personal attacks throughout the buildup before things escalated Thursday when Chimaev kicked Strickland during their faceoff.
Speaking during Nina Drama’s Kick stream, White admitted the hostility between the two has stood out even by UFC standards.
“It was what I expected,” White said when asked about the press conference. “It was great. Highly anticipated fight, finally going to happen on Saturday. …
“Sometimes, guys are very respectful, and they’re chill and whatever. And sometimes they’re (like) today.”
“It’s not all the same shit all the time. But for this one, this is one of the worst cases of bad blood ever.”
White reshuffles his all-time feud rankings
White initially said Chimaev and Strickland ranked second on his list of all-time UFC rivalries. But after thinking it over, he changed his mind and bumped the feud down one spot.
The longtime UFC boss still placed the rivalry behind the legendary beef between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov, which included the infamous Brooklyn bus attack and post-fight brawl at UFC 229.
“Conor-Khabib No. 1,” White said. “And the only reason Conor-Khabib is No. 1 is Brooklyn, and then what happened after the fight. …
“We made some mistakes, obviously, leading up to that fight and after that fight. And we won’t do that again.”
White then remembered the heated rivalry between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, which included their famous hotel lobby brawl in Las Vegas.
“[Jones and Cormier] is a good one,”
“That’s probably No. 2. I forgot there was a fist fight in the lobby of the MGM while people were checking into their hotel.”
“I would put [Chimaev vs. Strickland] at 3. “
“I would put Rampage [Jackson] and Rashad [Evans] up there. Tito [Ortiz] and [Ken Shamrock] would have to be up there.”
Security already on alert for UFC 328
After Thursday’s faceoff incident, security has stayed heavily involved around both fighters throughout fight week.
White admitted he was caught off guard when Chimaev kicked Strickland during the staredown.
“I had his arm, Khamzat’s arms, and I didn’t think he’d kick him,” White said. “I didn’t think he was going to do anything.”