Chimaev Releases Strickland Sparring Footage

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Chimaev Releases Strickland Sparring Footage

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated May 6, 2026 8:45 AM ET

Khamzat Chimaev has released previously unseen sparring footage from his time training alongside Sean Strickland.

The video was posted days before their UFC 328 middleweight title fight in Newark on Saturday, accompanied by a caption: “I am bullying weak people.” The footage itself, however, drew mixed reactions from fans, with the response failing to deliver the decisive visual argument Chimaev appeared to be making.

The origin of their gym dispute has since been traced to a direct confrontation at Xtreme Couture, where Strickland told Chimaev “don’t hurt people” after witnessing him go hard with lower-level sparring partners. That moment, described by Strickland as the starting point of their animosity, flipped a relationship that had previously been characterised by mutual respect.

Statistics	Khamzat Chimaev	Sean Strickland
Record	15-0	30-7
Title	UFC Middleweight Champion	Former UFC Middleweight Champion
Sparring Claim	Says he dominated	Says he held his own, admits one submission
Gym Origin	Visited Xtreme Couture	Xtreme Couture member
Odds	-590	+390
Hotel	Separate (UFC order)	Separate (UFC order)

The pre-fight hostility has crossed into territory that required the UFC to intervene. Strickland issued a direct threat during a media appearance: “All I’m going to do — I’m going to pull my gun out and I’m going to shoot him. If you come up to me with three Chechnyans that don’t speak English, I’m going to pull my gun and shoot each and every one of you.”

This article first appeared on BoxingNews.com and was syndicated with permission.

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