Sean Strickland blames Khamzat Chimaev for UFC 328 security fears

Sean Strickland says the UFC is wasting money on security measures designed to keep him away from Khamzat Chimaev before Saturday’s UFC 328 main event, because he has no plans to start anything.

The former middleweight champion told reporters Tuesday that Chimaev would be responsible for any altercation during fight week in Newark. “I think the security is pretty not necessary,” Strickland said, per MMA Fighting. “But it’s like how much money is the UFC making and spending on this fight? Chimaev won’t fight me.”

Strickland accuses Chimaev of hiding behind entourage

Strickland’s issue centers on what he describes as Chimaev traveling with roughly 30 people this week. The challenger, who once threatened to bring a gun to fight week after Chimaev suggested the local Muslim community would support him in New Jersey, says he would meet the champion one-on-one in a parking lot right now. “I don’t roll around with a posse because I’m a scared little bitch,” he said. Strickland went on to call Chimaev a coward multiple times for what he sees as threats to use his team rather than handle disputes himself. “You just act like a f*cking coward,” Strickland added.

Dana White previously told the UFC’s broadcast partners at Paramount to avoid any pre-fight video shoots that might put the two middleweights in close proximity. The promotion has kept them isolated all week to avoid jeopardizing the pay-per-view headliner. Still, mandatory staredowns at the press conference and ceremonial weigh-ins remain on the schedule.

Robert Whittaker, who lost to Chimaev via face crank at UFC 308 and had his jaw broken in the process, picked the champion to dominate. “Gun to my head, Chimaev’s going to run him over,” Whittaker told UFC on Paramount, according to Sherdog. The Australian said Chimaev’s wrestling is simply too overwhelming once he closes distance, and that Strickland’s best chance involves using his jab and knee raises to prevent takedown attempts altogether. Whittaker added that no amount of camp preparation can replicate what it feels like once Chimaev gets his hands on you.

Strickland closed as a major underdog but has made a career of spoiling favorites, including his upset of Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. UFC 328 takes place Saturday at Prudential Center with the main card airing on pay-per-view.

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — Sean Strickland promises Khamzat Chimaev would be to blame for any altercations before UFC 328: ‘You just act like a f*cking coward’ | MMA Fighting
• mmafighting.com — Morning Report: Robert Whittaker predicts Khamzat Chimaev will ‘run over’ Sean Strickland at UFC 328 | MMA Fighting
• sherdog.com — Robert Whittaker: Why Khamzat Chimaev will steamroll Sean Strickland at UFC 328