The intensity between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland is ramping up as UFC 328 fight week approaches, with both champion and challenger escalating their talk in recent days.
UFC Hall of Famer and commentator Dominick Cruz thinks it’s a growing game of chicken between the two egos, with Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) and Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) not wanting to show any signs of weakness as the moments grow closer to the May 9 middleweight title grudge match at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (Paramount+).
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On Tuesday, Strickland said, among many other comments, that he would shoot Chimaev and his team with a gun if they attempted to get physical with him on fight week. On Thursday, the champion responded, saying Strickland would be “dead” if he attempted such a thing, but made it clear he would prefer to punish him inside the octagon instead.
It’s all leading to a potentially explosive fight week, and Cruz sees lots of unpredictable elements in play because of the stakes involved.
“I think this is just fight week pressure and they both have an image to uphold, and both of them are going to flex bigger than the other one because that’s the personality they’re trying to bring,” Cruz told MMA Junkie. “They can’t start being nice now. You know what I mean? They’ve got to be the crazy guys. And now they’re going to out-crazy each other to see who’s tougher. That’s how I see it. Like, ‘No, I’m crazier than you, you can’t be crazier than me because I’ve already shown you how crazy I am.’ It’s just a show to me. But at the same time, the nerves of the fight going to the death is real. Two things can be true at the same time.
“I do believe there’s a lot of pressure. Think of the pressure for these guys? Strickland on his way to another title. Khamzat is just the undefeated guy that – think of the things people have been telling his ego? ‘You’re unbeatable, you’re the strongest guy ever, nobody will ever touch you.’ You can tell by the way that he talks that he really believes the hype about himself, too, to uphold. Imagine what his ego is telling him every day? That’s the pressure we have as fighters.”
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With Chimaev and Strickland both threatening what would be an unprecedented level of violence ahead of any UFC fight, it remains to be seen exactly how far the promotion will extend itself to ensure the only physical contact that happens between them is inside the cage. That could potentially rule out critical fight week activities such as the press conference and faceoff, which would come as a disappointment to fans, but Cruz could see as critical to safety.
“I doubt they’ll have faceoffs, right?” Cruz said. “If they’re saying that, why would you have a faceoff? Why would you even take the risk if you’re Dana with these two guys? Kind of like ‘DC’ and Jones and you could have another one of those situations where they just scrap and knock everything off the table.
“I don’t think they’re faking, I think they’re just talking crazy because they’re making sure you know: Don’t test me. That’s what’s been put out. ‘Don’t test me or I’ll do it.’ And UFC will say, ‘OK, we’re going to listen. Bring the security out.'”
To hear more from Cruz, check out his complete appearance on “The Bohnfire” podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 328: Cruz says Chimaev, Strickland trying to ‘out-crazy each other’
