Tensions flared between middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev and challenger Sean Strickland during a promotional event for UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey, when Chimaev kicked Strickland in the shin. This altercation took place despite the UFC's enhanced security measures, which included police presence and metal detectors at the fighter hotel in Morristown. The animosity between the two fighters has been building since they briefly trained together in Las Vegas in 2022. Strickland has accused Chimaev of being a 'bully' in the gym, while Chimaev has dismissed these claims as fabrications. Following the kick, Strickland took to social media to label Chimaev a coward. As the fight approaches, it remains uncertain if the New Jersey Athletic Control Board will impose any penalties on Chimaev. The two are set to clash for the 185-pound title at UFC 328 on Saturday at the Prudential Center.