UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is feeling extremely generous ahead of his return to the Octagon at UFC 328.
One of the most intriguing fights of the UFC’s calendar year is days away as middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev and former titleholder Sean Strickland prepare to settle their long-standing beef at UFC 328. In less than two weeks, Chimaev will return to the Octagon to defend his title against Strickland, and tensions continue to escalate ahead of fight night.
The heat is legit between Chimaev and Strickland, especially after the two traded barbs over a recent ‘street fight’ challenge before UFC 328. UFC CEO Dana White has also repeatedly emphasized the enhanced security needed to keep Strickland and Chimaev apart during UFC 328 fight week in Newark.
One of the biggest questions surrounding Chimaev vs. Strickland is how the former champion will deal with the undefeated Chimaev’s dynamic wrestling. While Strickland has showcased solid takedown defense in recent fights against Anthony Hernandez and Dricus du Plessis, he arguably hasn’t fought a grappler of Chimaev’s caliber in his career.
Chimaev’s training camp for UFC 328 has been intense, and things could get even crazier if any top-tier wrestler responds to the champ’s open challenge.
Khamzat Chimaev offers $200k challenge to Olympians ahead of UFC 328
In a recent post to X, Chimaev issued a six-figure challenge ahead of his UFC 328 return.
“Poor wrestlers started throwing challenges my way. I’m having trouble finding sparring partners,” Chimaev said.
“Waiting for any Olympic champion to step up for sparring. If he survives, I’ll give him 200 thousand dollars.”
As of this writing, no Olympian has responded to Chimaev’s open challenge, but that could change as UFC 328 draws closer.
Chimaev is extremely confident in his preparations for Strickland, and the two middleweight stars are set to clash in one of the biggest fights in the division’s recent history.
What is your prediction for Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland? Let us know in the comments!