UFC 328 staredowns at risk of being canceled as Khamzat, Strickland try to ‘out-crazy each other’ — ‘I doubt they’ll have face offs’

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 01: Sean Strickland reacts after his victory against Paulo Costa of Brazil in a middleweight fight during the UFC 302 event at Prudential Center on June 01, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

It’s UFC 328 fight week.

That means multiple opportunities for event headliners Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland to face off ahead of their five-round title fight on Sat. night (May 9, 2026) at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. But the promotion may pull the plug on fight week staredowns after “Borz” and “Tarzan” exchanged death threats in an attempt to “out-crazy each other.”

Bang! Bang!

“I doubt they’ll have face offs,” former UFC champion and current fight night commentator Dominick Cruz told MMA Junkie. “If they’re saying that, why would you have a face off? Why would you even take the risk if you’re Dana (White) 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, ‘Okay, we’re going to listen. Bring the security out.’”