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Khamzat Chimaev believes it's a good thing he and Sean Strickland will be fighting at UFC 328, rather than outside the Octagon. The main event on May 9th in Newark, New Jersey, will see Chimaev make his first middleweight title defense against former champion Strickland. Chimaev and Strickland have already exchanged plenty of sharp words and are known for their explosive temperaments to such an extent that UFC CEO Dana White stated the organization plans to keep the fighters separated until it's time for them to enter the cage.
Chimaev responded to a social media comment that questioned whether security would need to pull him off Strickland, even after he'd finished him.
"I don't want to kill a man," Chimaev said (translated from Russian via Zubayraev). "It's haram. ... No. They won't let me kill him there anyway. On the street it's different – if he dies, he dies. But in the cage, it's a sport."
Chimaev claimed the middleweight title with a unanimous five-round decision victory over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 last August. Prior to that, the undefeated Chimaev tore through his first four UFC opponents, including a 17-second knockout of Gerald Meerschaert and first-round finishes of Li Jingliang and Rhys McKee. His first bout to go the distance was a thrilling three-round clash against long-time welterweight contender Gilbert Burns, which earned both men a "Fight of the Night" bonus.
Ahead of his fight with Strickland, Chimaev has no preference for how his hand will be raised.
"Honestly, I don't think about it at all," Chimaev stated. "For now, I'm just training. Whatever happens, happens. ... I always envision victory, but only the Almighty knows how it will happen. In any way."
And if Chimaev happens to cross paths with Strickland before fight night?
"I want to fight," Chimaev said. "We'll have to fight anyway. ... I act according to the situation."
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