“I would be happy to die”: threats and police reinforcements, maximum tension before the fight between Chimaev and Strickland at the UFC

Since October 2018 and the fight between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov, we have rarely felt such significant tension before an MMA fight. While Sean Strickland will challenge champion Khamzat Chimaev this Saturday at UFC 328 in New Jersey, the prestigious American organization fears excesses between the two clans.

Since the announcement of this fight last March, tension has been maximum. Accustomed to verbal jousts and always delighted when he can cross the limit of reasonableness, the American has reached heights in recent weeks. He even threatened to “shoot” the Chechen if he crossed paths with him, continually calling him a “coward.”

This Tuesday, during the press day, Sean Strickland spoke again at the microphone of RMC Sport. “If we were in the same room, I am a man with dignity so I would say: hi Chimaev, see you Saturday. He on the other hand, like a dog, would say something stupid. And I would say: ok go ahead Khamzat, come here you bitch. He would run out and his little Chechen cowards would arrive. I could call him and go to a parking lot alone, he would be with 30 guys. »

Separate hotels, face-to-face canceled

Statements which clearly did not impress the main person concerned, who responded with a smile. “Strickland said he was going to shoot me. Go ahead, do it, I’d be happy to die, Khamzat Chimaev laughed. There’s not much that can happen before then because the UFC won’t let me see Strickland, I don’t know where he is. I’ve been in the lobby for 3 days and he’s not there. »

The two men were in fact separated. To avoid an early overflow, the queen MMA organization decided to send each team to a different hotel and to avoid any contact. Police officers were also called in to help prevent the security services from being overwhelmed. Finally, the face-to-face planned for the broadcaster Paramount was canceled.

The fighters will still see each other on Thursday and Friday, during the public press conference and the weigh-ins. Moments which will be scrutinized by fans, but also by organizers and security services, who hope to see only one fight this week: in the cage on Saturday.