Chimaev’s Coach Dismisses Strickland’s Death Threats as ‘Nonsense’ Ahead of UFC 328

Key facts

• UFC 328 takes place on May 9 in New Jersey.
• Khamzat Chimaev defends his middleweight belt for the first time after defeating Dricus Du Plessis.
• Sean Strickland said at a media scrum Wednesday he would ‘pull my gun out and shoot’ Chimaev if confronted.
• Chimaev’s coach Alan ‘Finfou’ Nascimento called the threats ‘nonsense’ and said Chimaev laughed after watching the video.
• Chimaev has considered dropping the middleweight title to chase a second championship at 205 pounds.
• Nascimento has coached Chimaev since his first pro MMA fight.
• UFC hosts a media day with Chimaev on Thursday.
• Nascimento said the team has not discussed future weight class changes, focusing solely on Strickland.

Death Threats and Dismissal

Sean Strickland, the challenger for the UFC middleweight title at UFC 328, escalated his war of words with champion Khamzat Chimaev by threatening to shoot him during fight week. At a media scrum on Wednesday, Strickland said, “I’m going to pull my gun out and I’m going to shoot him” if any confrontation occurs in New Jersey, where the May 9 event is scheduled. Chimaev’s head coach, Alan “Finfou” Nascimento, dismissed the remarks as “Sean Strickland being Sean Strickland.” Speaking to MMA Fighting later that day, Nascimento said Chimaev had not initially seen the comments. “It was only this morning [Wednesday] that we showed him what Sean Strickland had been saying. He watched it, laughed, and we went straight to training.” Nascimento characterized the threats as part of the accepted “trash talk” culture in mixed martial arts. “This whole thing of ‘I’m going to shoot him’ and all that, I think that’s just nonsense. Nobody is going to take things to that level. It doesn’t make sense,” he said.

Chimaev’s Focus and Maturity

Nascimento, who has coached Chimaev since his first professional MMA fight, emphasized that his primary role is to shield his fighter from psychological distractions. “My role is simply to talk to my athlete and make sure he doesn’t let this affect him mentally or psychologically because that area needs to be very well protected,” he said. The coach noted that Chimaev has matured significantly since his early career. “Certain things we used to have to deal with before don’t happen anymore. The work is being done in a very smooth way, to be honest.” Chimaev, who won the middleweight title by defeating Dricus Du Plessis, will make his first defense against Strickland. Nascimento expects Chimaev to respond during the UFC media day on Thursday, predicting “some nonsense” in return. “That’s part of the game, right?” he said. “Everyone is going to use whatever they can to try to destabilize the other person.”

The Title Fight and Future Ambitions

Chimaev’s camp faces additional distractions beyond Strickland’s rhetoric. The champion has publicly flirted with dropping the middleweight belt immediately after UFC 328 to pursue a second championship at 205 pounds. Nascimento acknowledged that possibility but stressed that the team is not looking beyond the upcoming fight. “From the moment both sides accepted the fight, the very first meeting we had was about eliminating any kind of thinking outside of this fight,” Nascimento said. “We haven’t talked at all about changing weight classes or what’s going to happen after this fight because it’s very important that our full focus is on this fight, on this moment.” He added, “The most important fight in any athlete’s life is always the next one, and Sean Strickland is the next one. All the focus is on this. After that, we’ll start thinking about other things.”

Nascimento’s Stance on Trash Talk Boundaries

While accepting trash talk as normal, Nascimento drew a line at personal attacks involving family. “Even if they talk about things that, from my point of view, in my humble opinion, I wouldn’t do. I don’t think it’s a man’s move when you bring up family, kids, you know? But if that’s what’s available, then everyone’s going to use it,” he said. The coach’s comments reflect a broader tension in combat sports between promotional theatrics and genuine animosity. Strickland’s threat of gun violence, however, goes beyond typical pre-fight banter, raising questions about security protocols during fight week. Nascimento remained confident that the situation would not escalate. “Nobody is going to take things to that level. It doesn’t make sense,” he reiterated.

Preparation and Psychological Warfare

Nascimento detailed the team’s approach to maintaining Chimaev’s mental equilibrium. “We know the responsibility we have. That’s my job,” he said. The coach has decades of experience in martial arts and has guided Chimaev through numerous high-stakes bouts. He described the preparation for Strickland as methodical and focused. “We’re preparing for the worst and ready for the best. There’s no such thing as an easy title defense,” Nascimento said. The team has not allowed any discussion of future plans, including a potential move to light heavyweight, to intrude on training. “This was something I personally asked him to understand, and the whole team as well,” Nascimento said. “The most important thing is that the fighter is completely focused and locked in on that moment.”

Outlook for UFC 328

UFC 328, headlined by Chimaev versus Strickland, is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated events of the year. The middleweight title bout carries significant implications for the division, with Chimaev’s potential move up in weight adding an extra layer of intrigue. Strickland’s inflammatory comments have already generated headlines, but Chimaev’s camp appears unfazed. Nascimento’s calm dismissal suggests that the champion is mentally prepared for whatever comes during fight week. Whether Strickland’s threats are mere bravado or a sign of genuine hostility, the UFC will likely increase security to ensure the event proceeds without incident. For now, Chimaev remains focused on the task at hand: defending his belt for the first time.

The bottom line

• Sean Strickland threatened to shoot Khamzat Chimaev during fight week, but Chimaev’s coach dismissed it as nonsense.
• Chimaev laughed off the threats and remains focused on his first middleweight title defense at UFC 328 on May 9.
• Coach Alan Nascimento emphasized mental preparation and said the team has not discussed Chimaev’s potential move to 205 pounds.
• Nascimento criticized personal attacks involving family but accepted trash talk as part of the sport.
• UFC 328 will feature a media day with Chimaev on Thursday, where he is expected to respond to Strickland.
• The fight carries high stakes, with Chimaev’s future weight class plans adding uncertainty to the division.