Khamzat Chimaev loves Sean Strickland because non-stop trash talk is getting him paid: ‘I never made that much money before’

Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t like much of anything Sean Strickland has said leading up to their fight at UFC 328 but he appreciate every word seems to be adding zeroes to his bank account.

The disdain between the middleweights is well known with Strickland using just about every derogative word in the dictionary to take aim at Chimaev. In response, Chimaev has largely remained calm, cool and collective while promising to settle the score once they meet in the octagon on Saturday night.

But for all the bad

blood between them, Chimaev says Strickland hyping up this fight has definitely been good for him financially.

“I love him,” Chimaev told reporters including MMA Fighting during a scrum on Tuesday. “I don’t know they pay good for him. That’s the important thing. I never made that much money before. That’s good.”

The UFC has gone to extremes to keep Chimaev and Strickland separated before they are forced to interact later this week at the customary pre-fight press conference on Thursday and then the weigh-ins on Friday.

The promotion has also hired extra security to ensure nothing happens before Chimaev and Strickland actually set foot in the octagon together on Saturday.

For his part, Chimaev admits he’s had an eye out looking for Strickland since he first arrived in New Jersey but the UFC has done a good job keeping them away from each other.

“Let him come,” Chimaev said. “I think they took him to some other hotel so maybe thinks so. I tried to find the guy and that’s not so much personal. The guy just talks too much.

“I don’t think it’s that possible [for any back and forth] to happen. Because they don’t let me see this guy.”

Chimaev also referenced an earlier threat made by Strickland where the former middleweight champion said if he gets jumped during fight week that he’s going to bring a gun and he’s willing to open fire if necessary.

As highly unlikely as that is to happen, Chimaev isn’t concerned about Strickland trying to unleash deadly violence on him or his team before UFC 328 arrives on Saturday.

“Where is he? I’ve been here three days in the lobby and the guy said he’s going to shoot me,” Chimaev said. “Let’s go. Do that. I will be happy to die.

“Do you think I care about what he says? When it comes time to die, I will be happy. All my life I’ve heard stuff like that. I don’t care about that shit.”

Considering the tension and all the trash talk between them, Chimaev and Strickland aren’t likely to bury the hatchet no matter the result in the fight.

That’s why Chimaev could only scoff at a question about his willingness to put everything behind him when the fight is over and actually shake Strickland’s hand.

Truth be told, Chimaev doesn’t really care one way or another if he maintains a good relationship with any of his past opponents and the same goes for Strickland after they finally clash on Saturday.

“What’s the point if I shake hands or not after the fight?” Chimaev said. “I beat him up, maybe never see him again The other 15 guys who I beat, I almost didn’t see them again. I don’t care about his life. I care about my life.”