UFC middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev has expressed his intention to avoid excessive force during his upcoming bout against Sean Strickland at UFC 328. While acknowledging the animosity between them, Chimaev stated that his actions will be governed by his religious beliefs, deeming the act of “killing” an opponent as forbidden (“haram”).
The UFC organization, led by Dana White, is taking precautionary measures to ensure a controlled environment for the fight week. These measures include housing Chimaev and Strickland in separate hotels and increasing security presence to prevent any physical altercations. White has also suggested foregoing pre-fight face-offs and photoshoots involving the two fighters, who have a history of past training partnership and current rivalry.
In a recent interview, Chimaev indicated that he doesn’t intend to complicate matters for the UFC. He commented on Strickland’s relatively small team, noting, “He doesn’t really have a team. It’s just one coach [Eric Nicksick]. He likes me more.”
When questioned about potentially going too far if he secured a submission victory over Strickland, Chimaev reiterated his commitment to restraint within the sporting context. “I don’t want to kill a man. Haram,” he stated, emphasizing that such actions are against his principles. He also acknowledged that security would likely intervene to prevent any such extreme behavior.
However, Chimaev drew a distinction between the controlled environment of an MMA fight and a street confrontation. He suggested that outside the octagon, the situation would be different, cryptically adding, “If he dies, he dies.” But he firmly reiterated that within the cage, it remains a sport.
Translated and paraphrased from the original text.