Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland nearly turned the UFC 328 press conference into complete chaos on Thursday evening after a heated faceoff ended with the reigning middleweight champion kicking his upcoming opponent in front of a packed crowd in Newark.
The two middleweights finally came face-to-face publicly for the first time since their long-discussed sparring sessions became a major talking point in MMA circles. But any hopes of a calm press conference quickly disappeared once both fighters walked onto the stage at the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House inside the Prudential Center complex.
Even before taking their seats, “Borz” and Strickland immediately began verbally firing at each other while security personnel positioned themselves closely between the two men.
The UFC had already increased security measures for the event following days of escalating threats and hostile exchanges between the rivals, with multiple police officers visible throughout the venue.
Heavy Security Struggles To Contain Chaotic UFC 328 Faceoff
The tension inside the building continued to rise throughout the press conference as Strickland launched into several profanity-filled tirades directed at “Borz”. The champion repeatedly responded from across the stage while security remained on high alert during the entire presser.
The atmosphere reached another level once the official faceoffs began.
As the two fighters squared up for photos following the press conference, Chimaev suddenly kicked Strickland, instantly triggering a swarm of security officers and police who rushed in to separate the pair before the situation escalated further.
The chaotic scene only added to what has already become one of the UFC’s most volatile fight-week buildups in recent memory. UFC CEO Dana White compared the hostility surrounding the matchup to some of the biggest grudge fights in promotional history.
Saturday’s UFC 328 main event will see the undefeated Chechen attempt to make the first defense of his middleweight title against the outspoken former champion.