Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland’s UFC 328 buildup turns confrontational as the pair face off after an ugly news conference. Multiple reports say Chimaev kicks Strickland during the heated exchange, with armed police present as officials intervene. Coverage notes that concerns about violence had been present leading into the week, and that those fears materialize two days before the middleweight title fight.
The incident occurs at the press event for the weekend’s main event, where both men trade vulgar insults. Despite the confrontation, one outlet reports that the rivals later touch gloves and embrace on fight night, suggesting the conflict does not carry through into the start of the bout.
UFC 328 is scheduled to feature Chimaev defending his middleweight title for the first time against Strickland. The confrontations and police involvement during the face-off highlight heightened tensions around the matchup, while the reports also point to a moment of reconciliation before the fight begins.
