Khamzat Chimaev loves Sean Strickland because non-stop trash talk is getting him paid: ‘I never made that much money before’

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 16: Khamzat Chimaev of Russia reacts after a unanimous-decision victory against Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa in the UFC middleweight championship fight during the UFC 319 event at the United Center on August 16, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)

Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t like much of anything Sean Strickland has said leading up to their fight at UFC 328 but he appreciate every word seems to be adding zeroes to his bank account.

The disdain between the middleweights is well known with Strickland using just about every derogative word in the dictionary to take aim at Chimaev. In response, Chimaev has largely remained calm, cool and collective while promising to settle the score once they meet in the octagon on Saturday night.

But for all the bad blood between them, Chimaev says Strickland hyping up this fight has definitely been good for him financially.

“I love him,” Chimaev told reporters including MMA Fighting during a scrum on Tuesday. “I don’t know they pay good for him. That’s the important thing. I never made that much money before. That’s good.”

The UFC has gone to extremes to keep Chimaev and Strickland separated before they are forced to interact later this week at the customary pre-fight press conference on Thursday and then the weigh-ins on Friday.

The promotion has also hired extra security to ensure nothing happens before Chimaev and Strickland actually set foot in the octagon together on Saturday.

For his part, Chimaev admits he’s had an eye out looking for Strickland since he first arrived in New Jersey but the UFC has done a good job keeping them away from each other.

“Let him come,” Chimaev said. “I think they took him to some other hotel so maybe thinks so. I tried to find the guy and that’s not so much personal. The guy just talks too much.