Gun threats and racial slurs: Strickland-Chimaev feud escalates ahead of UFC 328 title fight

Key facts

• UFC 328 takes place May 9, 2026 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
• Khamzat Chimaev defends the UFC middleweight title against Sean Strickland in the main event.
• Strickland claimed he would pack a gun and shoot Chimaev if approached during fight week.
• Chimaev responded that Strickland 'will be dead' if he carries out the threat.
• UFC officials have reportedly warned Strickland about his behavior, according to his social media posts.
• Strickland lost the title to Dricus Du Plessis in January 2024 and failed to reclaim it in February 2025.
• Chimaev won the belt by defeating Du Plessis in August 2025.
• Chimaev called Strickland a 'clown' and said the Muslim community in New Jersey would prevent any gun violence.

A title fight on the brink

The UFC middleweight championship bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland, scheduled for May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, has descended into a war of words that now includes explicit death threats and gun talk. With just over a week until fight night, the hostility has reached a level that has prompted intervention from UFC brass. Strickland, 35, is getting a second chance at the 185-pound title he lost to Dricus Du Plessis in January 2024 and failed to reclaim in a February 2025 rematch. Chimaev, undefeated, claimed the belt with a dominant win over Du Plessis last August and is set for his first title defense. The buildup has been marked by Strickland's characteristic provocations, but the rhetoric escalated sharply this week when he told reporters he would bring a gun to Newark and shoot Chimaev if the champion and his team approached him during fight week.

Death threats and a warning from the UFC

Chimaev, 31, responded Thursday by telling reporters that Strickland 'will be dead' if he follows through on the threat. The champion dismissed Strickland's bravado, saying, 'Clowns always talk. Bro, he hasn't shot any chickens in the world, how is he going to shoot a human? I don't think the guy wants a war outside the cage.' It remains unclear what measures the UFC might take to ensure the fight proceeds safely. However, Strickland posted on X on Friday that promotion officials have put him on notice — and he is not happy about it. 'The UFC is trying to limit my interactions with the dog,' he wrote. 'Listen I will say this now. I will not be controlled by a third world dog.... If I find there is unequal treatment between our camps I will walk to the lobby and wait for him. Control your whore or dont. I dont care. Let the chips fall where they may this is America...' The posts suggest that the UFC has attempted to impose restrictions on Strickland's interactions with Chimaev during fight week, a move that has only inflamed the challenger's defiance.

Chimaev's calm confidence and a silver lining

Despite the escalating tension, Chimaev struck a measured tone during a media scrum in Newport Beach, California. He noted that Newark has a large Muslim community, which he considers his home, and expressed doubt that Strickland would actually bring a gun. 'Otherwise, there would be a lot of people in jail,' he said. Chimaev also acknowledged the financial upside of the heated rivalry. 'I love it,' he said. 'I love the UFC, I love Sean Strickland and what he’s talking about — making a big fight, letting me make money.' The champion's comments reflect a strategic calculation: the animosity is driving pay-per-view buys and public interest, even as it raises legitimate safety concerns.

Strickland's unorthodox approach to trash talk

Sean Strickland's brand of provocation is distinct in the UFC. Unlike the playful storytelling of Tito Ortiz or the comedic one-liners of Chael Sonnen, Strickland's humor is devoid of playfulness. He deliberately crosses lines of decency, tossing out casual misogyny, xenophobia, gay bashing, racism, and Islamophobia, often daring the public to defend him. One observer characterized Strickland's behavior as an experiment to see if the world is still capable of an emotional response, or a performance to prove to his inner circle that he can get away with anything. His coach, Eric Nicksick, is often the audience for these antics. The challenger's willingness to escalate beyond verbal abuse into threats of lethal violence marks a new threshold, even for a fighter known for pushing boundaries.

Background: Strickland's path back to the title

Strickland's road to this rematch has been rocky. He lost the middleweight championship to Dricus Du Plessis in January 2024 via submission, then failed to regain it in a February 2025 rematch that went the distance. Despite those setbacks, he has remained a top contender and a polarizing figure in the sport. Chimaev, meanwhile, has been on a meteoric rise. After defeating Du Plessis in dominant fashion last August, he has established himself as the division's most feared fighter. His undefeated record and suffocating grappling style present a daunting challenge for Strickland. The fight itself is a clash of styles: Strickland's pressure boxing and durability against Chimaev's relentless wrestling and submission threat.

What comes next: A fight week under a cloud

With eight days until the event, the UFC faces the delicate task of managing two fighters who have openly threatened each other's lives. The promotion has not publicly detailed any security measures, but the situation is unprecedented in recent memory. Strickland has vowed not to be controlled, while Chimaev has warned that any attempt to bring a gun onto his turf would end badly for the challenger. The potential for a physical confrontation before the fight is real, and both men have indicated they are prepared for it. For now, the bout remains on schedule, but the atmosphere surrounding UFC 328 is charged with an anxiety that transcends typical pre-fight hype. The question is whether the hostility will boil over before they step into the Octagon.

A test of the UFC's ability to police its fighters

The Strickland-Chimaev feud has exposed the limits of the UFC's control over its athletes. While the promotion has long tolerated trash talk as a marketing tool, the explicit threats of gun violence and death represent a new frontier. The organization's response — reportedly warning Strickland but not canceling the fight — suggests a willingness to let the drama play out as long as the main event remains intact. But the stakes are high: a real-world altercation could lead to legal consequences and damage the UFC's reputation. As fight week approaches, all eyes will be on Newark. The Octagon may be the only place where this feud can be resolved safely, but getting there without incident is no longer guaranteed.

The bottom line

• Sean Strickland has threatened to bring a gun to UFC 328 fight week and shoot Khamzat Chimaev, who responded with a death threat.
• UFC officials have reportedly warned Strickland about his behavior, but the fight is still scheduled for May 9 in Newark.
• Chimaev views the hostility as beneficial for business, calling it a 'big fight' that will make him money.
• Strickland's trash talk is uniquely provocative, often crossing into racism, misogyny, and homophobia, and now includes lethal threats.
• The fight is a rematch of sorts: Strickland lost the title to Dricus Du Plessis, whom Chimaev defeated to become champion.
• The Muslim community in Newark, which Chimaev calls home, may deter Strickland from carrying out his threat, according to the champion.