The tension between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev finally exploded on stage Thursday night ahead of UFC 328.
The rivals spent most of the official press conference inside Prudential Center shouting over each other and trading insults as the bad blood continued to grow before Saturday’s title fight.
Things escalated fast once the faceoff began.
As the two middleweights stood nose-to-nose for the first time during fight week, Chimaev suddenly fired a push kick toward Strickland. Security rushed in immediately and separated both fighters before the situation got worse.
Strickland did not appear surprised by the moment.
“What did you expect?”
Strickland said following the incident.
Heated Rivalry Reaches Breaking Point
The feud between Strickland and Chimaev has turned into one of the most personal rivalries in the UFC’s middleweight division.
Their UFC 328 press conference barely stayed under control. Both fighters repeatedly interrupted each other during the 40-minute session. The verbal shots continued until the final staredown pushed things over the edge.
Chimaev enters Saturday’s main event as the reigning UFC middleweight champion and one of the promotion’s most dominant undefeated fighters. Strickland, meanwhile, is looking to reclaim the belt after previously holding the 185-pound title.
The fight takes place this weekend in Newark, New Jersey, with emotions already running high before either man steps inside the cage.