Khamzat Chimaev is ready to let his fists do the talking at UFC 328, and that's just the message UFC President Dana White needed to hear.

The undefeated middleweight champion is set to make his first title defense since dethroning Dricus du Plessis back in August 2025. He'll face off against Sean Strickland in the main event at Newark's Prudential Center, a card that also features a second championship bout.

But in recent weeks, tensions between the two fighters have reached a boiling point. White was forced to cancel a scheduled face-off between Chimaev and Strickland over fears the rivals would come to blows. The situation escalated further when Strickland made a gun threat directed at Chimaev just before fight week in New Jersey kicked off.

While Chimaev has a history of getting physical outside the Octagon—remember his run-ins with Paulo Costa and Kevin Holland at UFC 279, or the infamous Nate Diaz face-off incident—he's now assuring the promotion those days are behind him.

"That loudmouth talks too much, but nothing is going to happen," Chimaev said in a video posted to Adam Zubayraev's YouTube channel. "How are you supposed to fight with a hundred people around? We'll show our emotions in the cage. I came here to make money. I moved past that unprofessional stage a long time ago."

He added, "I hope he steps in the cage, we both perform well, recover well too. Hopefully we'll put a great fight for you guys."

This measured response is a welcome sign for the UFC, which has been on high alert ever since Strickland went after Dricus du Plessis during media obligations ahead of their title fight at UFC 296. Security teams will be out in full force for Thursday's press conference and Friday's weigh-ins, ready to step in if things get heated again.

But if Chimaev's latest comments are any indication, the fireworks will be saved for fight night—and that's exactly where they belong.