Dana White said he would “absolutely” allow Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland to face off after the UFC 328 press conference ended but he might be regretting that decision now.
The fighters were brought back up on stage after spending the better part of 30 minutes cursing at each other and White stood between them while asking them to “be good” so they could share a faceoff. Strickland started jawing and Chimaev insisted “I’m not going to touch you” as the middleweights got closer with security swarming all around them.
“You ain’t going to do shit,” Strickland shouted at Chimaev.
A second later, Chimaev actually kicked Strickland and mayhem erupted as security grabbed onto the UFC middleweight champion and his upcoming opponent to drag them away from each other before the situation escalated any further.
Strickland struggled trying to break free to go after Chimaev but he was swarmed by at least five security guards including members of the Newark Police Department. Without being able to get at Chimaev on stage, Strickland shouted back at him “you bitch, you coward!”
Following the conclusion of the press conference, Strickland took to Twitter where he reacted to the faceoff and the kick from Chimaev.
“Exactly what I expected a coward to do,” Strickland wrote.
The disdained shared between the fighters was on display throughout the press conference and the situation only escalated during the faceoff.
Considering what unfolded on Thursday, it remains to be seen if the UFC allows Chimaev and Strickland to faceoff again at the ceremonial weigh-ins scheduled for Friday.
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