Sean Strickland spent months trading blows verbally with Khamzat Chimaev before their clash at UFC 328, but the hostility faded quickly once the fight ended.
After reclaiming the UFC middleweight title, Strickland addressed the rivalry during his post-fight press conference.
Genuine animosity or fight buildup?
While many questioned how genuine the animosity really was, Strickland admitted he leaned heavily into promoting the matchup.
“I sell fights,” Strickland said at his post-fight press conference.
“Look at the UFC, how fcking boring it is. Really, the UFC is so fcking boring. Do you even know half the [roster]?”
Strickland also pointed to former champion Alex Pereira while explaining why he believes personalities matter in the sport.
“Other than Alex [Pereira], and he doesn’t even talk. He’s just big and scary. That guy just knocks everybody out. But other than Alex, it’s f*cking boring.”
Heated buildup turned respectful after fight
The tension between Strickland and Chimaev became one of the biggest talking points ahead of UFC 328. Their press conference drew massive attention online, with UFC CEO Dana White even calling it one of the most intense feuds the promotion had seen.
Still, signs of respect appeared before the cage door even closed. The two fighters touched gloves before the opening round. After the final horn, they embraced in the center of the Octagon while Chimaev wrapped the championship belt around Strickland’s waist.
According to Strickland, the experience of fighting someone at that level changes everything once the battle is over.
“There is something, unless you’ve experienced it, you just don’t know what it’s like,” Strickland said.
“When you go and fight another man, your soul is just exposed.”
Strickland continued describing the emotional side of a five-round championship fight.
“When you’re f*cking bleeding, and he’s bleeding, I want to quit; he wants to quit, we don’t want to be there, you just have this level of respect for one another.”