UFC veteran breaks down Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland

In what's turned into one of the bigger grudge matches in recent years, middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev and former titleholder Sean Strickland headline the UFC 328 fight card on May 9th.

The undefeated Chimaev and Strickland used to train together but their relationship deteriorated into becoming bitter rivals. The two will address their disagreements inside the cage at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. UFC lightweight veteran Beneil Dariush broke down the championship matchup and warns not to sleep on Strickland's grappling.

"In the first couple of rounds, Khamzat's doing to be very dominant," Dariush told Helen Yee Sports. "Sean can wrestle. This is what people don't understand. Every time I see Sean, every time I go over to Vegas, he's wrestling. He's working on his wrestling. He's working on his get up ... He goofs off about it, but he's legit. He wrestles so much and he looks very very good when he does wrestle."

Chimaev is known for his relentless pace and pressure in the early rounds. He overwhelms opponents and then out-grapples them. Dariush believes Chimaev will be able to take Strickland down but questioned whether "Borz" can keep him there.

"I think Sean is going to get taken down and I think he's going to get pressure quite a bit. But I think Sean has the ability to keep getting up and then round three, round four, round five, that's where things will be interesting," said Dariush.

"The first two rounds I think will be for Khamzat, but then after that it'll be really fun to watch after that. I think smart money would be Khamzat, but I believe Sean can do it, too."