Dana White Destroys Narrative Around Sean Strickland Changing His Ways After UFC 328 Title Fight and Apology

Dana White believes Sean Strickland has not changed after his title win at UFC 328. The American middleweight regained the title after defeating Khamzat Chimaev in a closely contested 5-round main event. Following the fight, the longtime rivals were very respectful to each other in the octagon

The two even embraced in the cage, forgoing their heated rivalry. In a rare show of respect, Khamzat Chimaev even wrapped the middleweight title around his opponent. In turn, Strickland was very complimentary of the Chechen champion in his octagon interview, and even thanked Chimaev in a post on Instagram.

At the post-fight press conference, a reporter asked Dana White about this mellowed side of Sean Strickland. The UFC boss had quite a lot to say.

Yeah, I highly doubt that we have a new and improved Sean Strickland. I’ll believe it when I see it, but I’m not buying it. I think that was, I think we saw that much of Sean Strickland. I don’t know how much that, how long that will last. If that’s where he’s headed now, nobody’s happier than me. I promise you that. But I’m not buying it.

Dana White via the UFC 328 post-fight press conference

Dana White isn't buying the "new and improved" nice guy Sean Strickland 😭

"I highly doubt we have a new and improved Sean Strickland. I'll believe it when I see it, I'm not buying it.

I don't know how long that will last. If that's where he's headed now, nobody's happier than… pic.twitter.com/pR0bTYWzfs

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 11, 2026

Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev had an extremely hostile and chaotic buildup to their fight. Even though many credited them for making UFC 328 the most “anticipated” card of the Paramount era, it came at the cost of heightened security for the event. Their face-off during the press conference ended with Chimaev kicking ‘Tarzan’.

Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland definitely did an incredible job of selling their fight at UFC 328. Dana White called the card’s performance “monstrous”, and revealed that it was one of the biggest events in recent UFC history. The feud between the fighters was the key reason behind the card’s numbers, but Strickland explained why UFC 328 was the final chapter in that rivalry.

Sean Strickland says feud with Khamzat Chimaev is over

Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev’s actions after the fight have led many to believe that the bad blood between them was greatly exaggerated. For a while now, the 35-year-old has been accused of playing up what he says for attention. That said, the middleweight champion insists that his feud with Khamzat Chimaev, though real, could have also been something he “manufactured”.

Even so, at the post-fight press conference for UFC 328, ‘Tarzan’ also revealed that it was now over after sharing the cage with Chimaev. He explained that sharing the cage with someone is a transcendent feeling that can only be experienced.

There is something, unless you’ve experienced it, you just don’t know what it’s like. When you go and fight another man, your soul is just exposed. When you’re bleeding, and he’s bleeding, I want to quit; he wants to quit, we don’t want to be there, you just have this level of respect for one another. It transcends race, religion, nationality, country. It’s something that you just don’t know. You kind of become someone’s brother after you, and him try to die, win or lose.

Sean Strickland via the UFC 328 post-fight press conference

The American also explained how Chimaev’s “demeanor” was what instigated the rivalry for him. Strickland revealed that Chimaev’s threatening attitude made him react more viscerally than he should have. Although later, the middleweight champion conceded that the way he may have “manufactured” this feud in his head altogether, hallucinating his “entire interaction with Chimaev.”

Considering that Chimaev kicked Sean Strickland during the pre-fight press conference face-offs, not all of it was hallucinated. Nonetheless, Strickland wished Chimaev well on his prospective move up in weight to the UFC’s light heavyweight division. He commented on the 205lbs division having “easier competition” for his former rival.

Meanwhile, Strickland has alluded to him and his wife deserving a break after six months of fight preparation. So, the middleweight champion plans to rest up and support Alex Pereira at the White House before moving on to the next challenger at middleweight.

Also Read:

• Islam Makhachev Impressed by Training Session Stories of Sean Strickland Ahead of UFC 328 Title Fight
• Tough Weight Cutting Process for Khamzat Chimaev Revealed by Teammate Arman Tsarukyan Ahead of UFC 328