Chimaev and Strickland, with UFC CEO Dana White in between them, got physical at the UFC 328 presser
By Shakiel Mahjouri May 7, 2026 at 7:40 pm ET • 1 min read 
Getty Images Good luck keeping Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland apart before UFC 328. Even with police, extra security and UFC CEO Dana White present, the rivals still got physical at Thursday's press conference face-off.
The UFC 328 pre-fight press conference was complete mayhem. The promotion wisely limited the participation to the main and co-main event athletes. That put all the spotlight on Strickland and Chimaev, who traded barbs for almost the entire 30-minute run time. They hurled insults, talked over each other and claimed supremacy over their infamous sparring sessions.
Amid the heated conversation, White was asked if he'd let the headliners face off.
"Absolutely," the UFC president replied.
Chimaev and Strickland walked towards the center stage at the conclusion of the press conference. Police and security personnel were on high alert. White, standing between them, urged both men to "be good."
"I'm not going to touch you," Chimaev told Strickland.
The UFC middleweight champion immediately contradicted himself and ignored White's directive by kicking Strickland. Security quickly intervened, separating both men. Strickland was clearly heated, aggressively framing off a security member's face in an attempt to break free.
THIS WAS INEVITABLE 👀@KChimaev vs @SStricklandMMA [ #UFC328 | MAY 9 | 9pmET | LIVE on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/Rm4OSEWSa7
— UFC (@ufc) May 7, 2026
"Exactly what I expected a coward to do," Strickland wrote on social media afterwards.
Join the Conversation comments
