Sean Strickland Trains With Former UFC Champion Francis Ngannou Ahead of UFC 328 Title Fight

UFC 328 headliner Sean Strickland trains with Francis Ngannou ahead of title shot against Khamzat Chimaev.

Sean Strickland Trains With Former UFC Champion Francis Ngannou Ahead of UFC 328 Title Fight

Sean Strickland trains with Francis Ngannou (via Instagram)

In Short
  • Sean Strickland trains with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou ahead of his title fight at UFC 328.
  • Strickland is preparing to face current middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, following a recent TKO victory.
  • Ngannou praised Strickland's intense training sessions, highlighting their long-standing partnership at Xtreme Couture.

Sean Strickland has built a reputation as one of the most controversial fighters on the current UFC roster. The former middleweight champion often makes headlines for his remarks, which do not always sit well with fans. He is also known for his demanding and unique training sessions. He was recently seen continuing that approach while working alongside former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

Strickland last competed at UFC Houston, where he defeated surging contender Anthony Hernandez via TKO. The win added momentum to his run at middleweight after the UFC 312 loss to Dricus Du Plessis. It was later announced that he would face former teammate and current middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328. The event is scheduled for the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Strickland trained at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas alongside Francis Ngannou as part of their long-standing training relationship. The two have worked together for years in the same gym environment, building familiarity through repeated sparring sessions. Ngannou later praised the former middleweight champion’s recent training effort, noting the intensity and consistency he showed during sessions.

A good teammate, we’ve been in the same gym for years now. I’ve been around for so many of his fights, even though this one is way different. I think it’s a very tough fight, but he has the right partners with him, and he’s doing a good job putting emphasis on the wrestling. We shared some rounds, but not a lot.

Francis Ngannou via Helen Yee Sports

The two fighters have long been teammates at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, dating back to Ngannou’s UFC run. They shared sparring and preparation sessions under the gym’s coaching staff. Strickland has previously highlighted Ngannou’s knockout power, even in controlled sparring. He has also acknowledged ‘The Predator’ as the only fighter who genuinely scares him in training exchanges.

Strickland’s sparring sessions at Xtreme Couture are widely known for their intensity, as he is recognized for not holding back during training. His approach often involves high-pressure exchanges that mirror fight conditions rather than controlled technical drilling. This style was evident in recent sessions leading up to his UFC Houston fight, during which he worked with Brazilian middleweight Michel Pereira.

This training session comes at a pivotal point for both fighters as they prepare for major bouts. Sean Strickland is focused on his title fight against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328, where his defensive skills will be tested. Francis Ngannou is preparing for his return under the MVP MMA banner against Philippe Lins. Both continue refining their game ahead of key moments in their respective careers.

Former UFC champion weighs in on Sean Strickland’s chances against Khamzat Chimaev

After his UFC 319 middleweight title win over Dricus Du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev further cemented his reputation as one of the strongest wrestlers in the UFC. Chimaev also carries an undefeated professional record, which has reinforced belief in his dominance across the division. As a result, many initially felt Sean Strickland would have little chance against the Chechen champion heading into their matchup.

Sean Strickland sends a message to Khamzat Chimaev
Sean Strickland sends a message to Khamzat Chimaev (Image via The Body Lock and UFC.com)

Surprisingly, several UFC fighters, including DDP and Joe Pyfer, believe Strickland’s unorthodox style could trouble Chimaev’s wrestling-heavy approach. They suggest his movement and defensive awareness may disrupt Chimaev’s timing. This view was also recently reinforced by Aljamain Sterling, who echoed concerns that Strickland’s awkward rhythm could make grappling exchanges more difficult.

I think Khamzat is conflicted right now. He’s trying to decide whether he’s gonna run through him. Because he knows possibly if he doesn’t, then he’s going to be tired going into those later rounds.

Aljamain Sterling via Home Of Fight

This is not the first time Aljamain Sterling has weighed in on Sean Strickland’s chances against Khamzat Chimaev. He has previously pointed to the psychological aspect as a key factor, suggesting mental pressure could influence how it unfolds. Sterling had also suggested Strickland could use mind games and trash talk to get under Chimaev’s skin, reinforcing the importance of the mental buildup at UFC 328.

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