The rivalry between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland has become one of the most heated feuds in recent UFC history, with tensions reaching boiling point ahead of their blockbuster middleweight title clash at UFC 328.
What started as mutual respect during training sessions has spiralled into personal attacks, online insults and even alarming threats outside the Octagon.
From Training Partners To Bitter Rivals
The origins of the feud date back to 2022, when Chimaev visited Las Vegas alongside close friend Darren Till to train at Xtreme Couture, the gym where Strickland regularly prepares.
At the time, Chimaev was still competing at welterweight and preparing for his fight against Nate Diaz at UFC 279. The pair reportedly trained together without issue, although questions over who dominated those sparring sessions later became a major talking point.
As both fighters climbed the middleweight ranks, the rivalry slowly intensified.
Title Picture Sparks Tension
The feud escalated in late 2023 when Strickland publicly questioned Chimaev’s credentials for a middleweight title shot after Chimaev narrowly defeated Kamaru Usman at UFC 294.
Strickland argued that Chimaev had not truly earned a championship opportunity and accused the UFC of favouring him because of his popularity.
“The only thing I like about Chimaev is that he sells fights,” Strickland said at the time, insisting the undefeated fighter had not proven himself enough at middleweight.
Eventually, the UFC awarded Dricus du Plessis a title opportunity instead, leaving Chimaev frustrated.
Sparring Claims And “Unfinished Business”
The gym rivalry resurfaced in 2024 when Chimaev claimed he had dominated Strickland during their training sessions.
“He said he beat me in sparring,” Chimaev said. “But there were a lot of guys around who saw me choking him and beating him up.”
Strickland rejected those claims, maintaining that he had gotten the better of Chimaev in the gym. No footage from the sessions was ever released, only adding fuel to the debate among MMA fans.
Personal Attacks Cross The Line
The rivalry turned uglier ahead of the UFC 312 build-up when Chimaev mocked Strickland online over emotional comments the American made about his abusive childhood during an appearance on Theo Von’s podcast.
Strickland reacted furiously, responding with personal attacks aimed at Chimaev’s ties to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and his relationship with authorities in the region.
Since then, the feud has repeatedly crossed into deeply personal territory, with both men targeting each other’s backgrounds rather than simply discussing fighting ability.
Security Concerns Ahead Of UFC 328
The hostility continued to escalate after Chimaev captured the middleweight title by defeating du Plessis in 2025.
Strickland criticised the champion for inactivity and again referenced Chimaev’s relationship with Kadyrov, accusing him of lacking motivation to defend the belt regularly.
As the UFC officially booked the fight for UFC 328, security quickly became a serious concern. UFC president Dana White admitted extra measures were needed to prevent physical altercations outside official events.
Strickland later intensified the controversy by publicly claiming he would use a firearm if approached aggressively by Chimaev’s entourage during a street confrontation.
Fortunately, no serious incident has occurred, although tensions spilled over during the UFC 328 press conference when Chimaev appeared to land a low kick during a heated face-off.
Now, with the middleweight title on the line, the long-running feud is finally set to be settled inside the cage — where both fighters believe they will have the last word.
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