Khamzat Chimaev kicks Sean Strickland at UFC 328 staredown

Middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev kicked challenger Sean Strickland in the shin during a promotional staredown Thursday ahead of their UFC 328 title fight in Newark.

The incident happened with UFC CEO Dana White standing between the fighters and telling them to keep it professional, per ESPN's Brett Okamoto. Strickland appeared to suffer no injury from the shin strike. The New Jersey Athletic Control Board has not yet announced whether Chimaev will face discipline.

Why UFC installed metal detectors and police at fighter hotel

The promotion implemented heightened security measures this week after Strickland said he would defend himself with a gun if Chimaev's team tried to assault him. Metal detectors and a constant police presence were installed at the fighter hotel in Morristown, New Jersey. Strickland has been staying at a separate location away from Chimaev's camp.

The bad blood dates back to 2022, when the two briefly trained together in Las Vegas. Strickland has since called Chimaev a gym bully; Chimaev says the accusation is fiction.

After Thursday's kick, Strickland posted on social media: "Exactly what I expected a coward to do."

The undefeated Chimaev defends his 185-pound title against Strickland on Saturday at the Prudential Center.

Source: espn.com