UFC 328: Khamzat Chimaev kicks Sean Strickland despite armed police presence after ugly exchange
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- Khamzat Chimaev kicked Sean Strickland during a heated UFC 328 news conference face-off, despite armed police and security presence, escalating tensions between the fighters.
- The rivalry has been marked by personal and derogatory insults, with Strickland making racist and religious attacks on Chimaev, and Chimaev responding with comments on Strickland's past trauma.
- UFC increased security measures for the event, including separate hotels for the fighters, following Strickland's prior threats to shoot Chimaev if confronted.
- UFC president Dana White described the rivalry as one of the most intense in UFC history and indicated no disciplinary action would likely be taken, emphasizing his support for free speech, including controversial comments.
- Strickland was not physically hurt by the kick and dismissed it as cowardly on social media; it remains uncertain if any official punishment will come from the New Jersey Athletic Control Board.
