UFC 328: Heightened security protocols enacted as Chimaev-Strickland feud reaches breaking point
Security measures include a human shield of police officers and strict media scheduling to prevent contact between the middleweight champion and his former titleholder opponent ahead of their bout at the Prudential Center.
UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is scheduled to defend his title against former champion Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey. The event is marked by intense personal animosity between the fighters, stemming from a 2022 incident at Strickland's gym where Chimaev accused Strickland of bullying and Strickland accused Chimaev of cowardice. Security measures have been heightened to prevent the fighters from encountering each other outside the cage, with Strickland openly threatening violence and Chimaev expressing willingness to face him in the octagon.
To mitigate the risk of off-cage violence, event organisers have implemented strict security protocols at the fighter hotel in Newark. These measures include a human shield of up to four police officers surrounding Chimaev during movements between interviews, alongside a rigid media schedule designed to ensure the fighters never cross paths. This level of physical separation is a direct response to Strickland's explicit threats issued during fight week, in which he stated he would shoot Chimaev and his team dead if they approached him.
In contrast to the aggressive rhetoric from Strickland, Chimaev has dismissed the necessity of such precautions. Speaking to media, the champion noted he does not think much about security and has spent three days in the lobby without issue. When pressed on the possibility of an encounter, Chimaev stated he would be happy to die if they met, suggesting the added barriers were unnecessary given his own history of violence in the sport.
The origin of the feud remains a point of contention, with conflicting narratives regarding the initial spark. Strickland claims the root cause was a group chat message where he joked about a young fighter's wrestling ability, which Chimaev allegedly interpreted as an insult, leading Chimaev to call Strickland a piece of shit and threaten to kill him. Conversely, Chimaev has described the situation as a misunderstanding and maintained that he simply trains hard to make money, refusing to engage with the personal nature of the accusations.
Compounding the tension, Chimaev posted a video of a 2022 sparring session with the caption "I am bullying weak people." Strickland has since clarified that the footage was merely a warm-up round filmed without his knowledge or consent. Despite these clarifications, the narrative of bullying and lack of dignity continues to fuel the animosity, with Strickland describing Chimaev as a man with zero dignity who cannot keep his shit together.
Betting odds currently favour Chimaev at 6-to-1, though the psychological warfare between the two remains a significant variable. Strickland has argued that the added security prevents him from settling the score in a parking lot, while Chimaev maintains his focus is solely on making millions and beating his opponent in the cage. The outcome of the fight will likely depend on whether the heightened security successfully contains the personal vendetta or if the animosity spills over into the octagon.
