Dana White Prepares for Potential Chaos at UFC 328
Some rivalries in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) are strategically built for promotion, while others ignite with genuine, raw disdain. The upcoming main event at UFC 328, pitting middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev against Sean Strickland, unequivocally falls into the latter category. The animosity between Chimaev and Strickland has reached legendary levels, prompting the UFC to proactively implement stringent security measures to prevent a pre-fight brawl.
Beefed-Up Security Measures
UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed that the promotion is taking extensive steps to keep Chimaev and Strickland separated throughout fight week. This includes a cancellation of a planned pre-fight faceoff, originally arranged by Paramount, designed to generate hype for the event. White emphasized his firm stance against allowing the two fighters to be in close proximity.
“I hope somebody told them [that isn’t happening],” White stated to Spinnin’ Backfist. “Because that is the case. Because that is a fact. No bullshit, we’re going to beef up security and law enforcement and everything. All of it. Hotels, bumping into each other, all that [kind of stuff].”
To further minimize the risk of an altercation, the UFC plans to house Chimaev and Strickland in separate hotels. This precaution aims to eliminate the possibility of chance encounters in common areas like lobbies and elevators.
“Definitely [putting them in separate hotels],” White confirmed. “That’s definitely going to happen.”
Dana hopes someone has told Paramount that he doesn’t want Khamzat & Strickland to face off behind the scenes during UFC 328 fight week. “No bullshit we’ve beefed up security & law enforcement and everything for that fight”He also said that Khamzat & Sean will be staying in… pic.twitter.com/NWWAQeDiDE
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) April 11, 2026
Lessons Learned from Past Incidents
The UFC’s heightened security response is rooted in past experiences with volatile rivalries. The infamous pre-fight press conference between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz, which devolved into a soda can-throwing melee, prompted the UFC to remove all beverages from the stage. Furthermore, McGregor’s attack on a bus carrying fighters in an attempt to confront Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Nurmagomedov’s subsequent post-fight altercation with Dillon Danis, serve as stark reminders of the potential for chaos.
Sean Strickland himself has demonstrated a propensity for confrontation, famously diving over rows of fans and fighters to engage Dricus du Plessis before their first encounter. UFC officials are acutely aware of these precedents and are determined to prevent a similar situation from unfolding with Chimaev and Strickland.
With the main event scheduled for May 9th in New Jersey, the UFC faces a significant challenge in maintaining order and ensuring that the rivalry remains contained within the Octagon. The stakes are high, and Dana White is leaving no stone unturned in his efforts to prevent a pre-fight disaster.
