Khamzat Chimaev responds to Sean Strickland's threats: 'If I wanted war, I'd already be dead'

Chimaev focused before fighting in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

Close to having one of the most rivalry-filled confrontations in recent times, Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland have taken the animosity to increasingly extreme levels. Days after the American went public to threaten to shoot his opponent, it was the turn of the current middleweight champion (up to 83,9 kg) to respond publicly during an interview with 'MMA Weekly' last Thursday (30).

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According to the champion, Sean Strickland 's claims are just talk. He believes that if the challenger were interested in taking the feud outside the octagon to the point of using weapons, he would be putting his own life at risk.

“I don’t think the guy wants a real war outside the cage. If he did, he’d already be dead. New Jersey is a Muslim community. It’s my home. I don’t think he’s going to show up with weapons there. Otherwise, there’s going to be a lot of people in jail, because he’d be dead,” declared the Chechen.

Khamzat Chimaev responded to Sean Strickland threatening to shoot him 😬

"I don't think the guy wants a real war outside the cage. If he wanted, he would be dead already.

New Jersey is a Muslim community. It's my home. I don't think he's gonna come out with the guns there.… pic.twitter.com/YxxseF5Cf5

— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) April 30, 2026

Sean Strickland responded to Khamza Chimaev

Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev will face each other at UFC 328. Photo: SUPER LUTAS montage.

Immediately after seeing the post, Strickland responded to his rival. Repeating familiar slogans and reaffirming his nationalism as a US citizen, he stated that he would carry out the threats if necessary.

“That’s why you’re a coward. We’re going to attack you, my Muslim friends are going to attack you. You may live in America, but you have no idea what it’s like to be an American or a man. If I ever said I was going to attack you, I wouldn’t be able to look at myself in the mirror. Coward,” he stated.

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