The trash talk between UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev and former titleholder Sean Strickland has reached a fever pitch ahead of their UFC 328 showdown. Both fighters have taken their war of words far beyond the octagon, with Strickland even suggesting he'd resort to extreme measures if confronted on the streets. But Chimaev isn't losing any sleep over it.

"I don't know. We'll see what's going to happen over there. For me, the same sh*t," Chimaev said during a scrum interview on Thursday. "Clowns always talk. He's not going to be a clown if he's quiet."

Chimaev, known for his relentless fighting style and undefeated record, dismissed Strickland's threats with characteristic bravado. "Bro, he didn't shoot any chickens in the world, bro. How is he going to shoot the human? I don't know. I don't think so. The guy wants a real war outside of the cage. So, if he wanted, he'd be dead already."

The tension between these two middleweights is fueled by a shared history in the gym. They once trained together, but their memories of those sessions couldn't be more different. Strickland paints Chimaev as a bully who dominated lesser training partners. Chimaev, however, claims he had the upper hand every time—and expects the same result when they meet in the main event.

"He never had success with me. So, it's not going to be different this time as well. I was fighting at 170 that time. So imagine I beat him on that weight and was cutting the weight and at that time I beat him. So, right now, people know how big I am, how hungry I am. So, it's good meat. I like white American chicken," Chimaev said with a smirk. "My plan is just go there, beat him up, take the money and go home."

UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland is set for May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. It marks Chimaev's first title defense and the 12th time the promotion has brought a fight card to Newark. For fans of combat sports, this grudge match promises fireworks—both in the buildup and inside the cage.