Khamzat Chimaev kicks Sean Strickland at explosive UFC 328 press conference

An explosive press conference between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland spilled over into violence on Thursday, as the Russian kicked the American ahead of UFC 328.

On Saturday night, Chimaev will defend the middleweight title against ex-champion Strickland, following an intense build-up between the former training partners.

Numerous insults have been traded, and Chimaev even leaked footage of one of their past sparring sessions, with fans ultimately expecting violence when the pair got close during fight week.

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev pictured in 2022 (Getty)

Sure enough, that materialised on Thursday, as the pre-fight press conference ended with Chimaev kicking Strickland during the face-off, leading security to hold back an incensed Strickland and a taunting Chimaev.

The Russian, 32, formed his hand into the shape of a gun and pointed it at Strickland, 35, who recently threatened to shoot Chimaev.

All of this followed a fraught press conference, where Chimaev and Strickland were sat further apart than opponents usually would be, as they traded vulgar verbal barbs.

“He will be dead in two days,” Chimaev said. “I beat him every day. Look at this guy [...] He has some mental problems, he’s crying. Look at his face. I’m here now. Look at his face, you’ll cry now.”

“Let me tell you about this f***ing p***y,” Strickland said. “I was there when you walked off the mat and had Covid and [almost] retired [...] I almost died in a motorcycle accident. Did I f***ing quit? Did I f***ing retire? You let the common cold retire you. Don’t talk about me being a b***h. You had a cough, and you quit this f***ing sport.