Cruz: Chimaev, Strickland trying to 'out-crazy' each other for UFC 328
Dominick Cruz doesn't think Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland will be allowed to face off during UFC 328 fight week.
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+ ). 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.