Sean Strickland Brings Up COVID Retirement of Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 Presser

Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev‘s trash talk has gotten incredibly spiteful of late. The UFC 328 main eventers exchanged some vicious barbs at the pre-fight press conference on Thursday. The former middleweight champion attacked the Chechen for everything from his relationship with Ramzan Kadyrov to beating him when they were training partners.

Even with all that, the American wasn’t satisfied with just bringing up his victories over Chimaev in sparring. Sean Strickland kicked things up a notch by criticizing Khamzat Chimaev for retiring back in 2021. This was due to a particularly severe case of COVID-19 that left him battling serious complications.

Strickland compared Chimaev’s situation to his own motorcycle accident, saying he didn’t quit after that. ‘Tarzan’ utterly minimized Chimaev’s battle with COVID-19, stating that the middleweight champion almost quit the sport over a cough.

Let me tell you… I was there when you walked off the mat and had COVID, and retired. His dad, Ali, had to call him and say, ‘You better get back there and make me money.’ I almost died in a motorcycle accident. Did I quit? Did I retire? You let the common cold retire you… You had a cough, and you quit this sport.

Sean Strickland via the UFC 328 press conference

🤬 Sean Strickland goes off at Khamzat Chimaev for almost retiring during COVID:

"His dad Ali called him and told him to comeback and make him money. You let the common cold retire you."

🎥 @ufc pic.twitter.com/34guZMEKzp

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 7, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev revealed a few years ago that it wasn’t COVID but a cancer misdiagnosis that almost caused him to hang up his gloves. The middleweight champion had revealed that one doctor told him that he had cancer while another said he didn’t. Eventually, this took a toll on Borz’s psyche, leading him to retire. However, his former training partner seemed aware of this as he lambasted the Chechen.

Strickland then pivoted to reiterating his version of their training sessions, claiming that he frequently beat Khamzat Chimaev in the gym and even threatened to beat him onstage. But the insults keep coming as Chimaev re-entered the fray to retaliate against Strickland in the most extreme way possible. The middleweight champion of the world went after Sean Strickland’s childhood trauma involving his father.

Khamzat Chimaev brings up Sean Strickland’s father at UFC 328 press conference

During the buildup to their fight at UFC 297, Sean Strickland insulted Dricus Du Plessis for kissing his coach, calling him all manner of homophobic slurs. ‘Stillknocks’ retaliated against Strickland by bringing up the American’s father abusing him as a child. While it immediately led to more homophobic slurs, nothing else happened until UFC 296, where the middleweights got into a brawl in the crowd.

Later, Sean Strickland went on Theo Von‘s podcast and revealed how this trauma was really deep-seated. He recently also pushed back against Khamzat Chimaev, saying his dad’s abuse made him soft during the UFC 328 media day. ‘Tarzan’ revealed that if anything, it has made him more violent. Even so, ‘Borz’ kicked the same hornet’s nest ahead of the UFC 328 main event during the press conference.

Look at this guy, his dad beat him up every day, and he has some mental problems. He’s crying. Look at his face. I’m here now. Look at his face. You’ll cry now. He’s never going to beat me. Never. I’ll be your daddy. I’ll make you cry again. I’ll be your daddy in the cage. I’ve been all day, every day, your daddy. You know about it. I’m your daddy. Listen to your daddy.

Khamzat Chimaev via the UFC 328 press conference

These heated exchanges at the pre-fight press conference culminated with Khamzat Chimaev kicking Sean Strickland during their face-off. The immediate intervention from the heightened security for the event thankfully prevented further escalation. However, the fighters still exchanged barbs on social media.

As many had expected heading into this fight week, things between the two middleweights have devolved into raw animosity. That said, the former teammates are scheduled to face off again at the ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday.

Also Read:

• Sean Strickland Reveals Group Chat Misunderstanding as Moment When Hatred for Khamzat Chimaev Started
• UFC Veterans Refuse To Count Out Sean Strickland’s Chances Against Khamzat Chimaev At UFC 328