Khamzat Chimaev has a surprising take on Sean Strickland ahead of their highly anticipated UFC 328 main event—he actually likes the guy. But don't mistake that for friendship; it's all about the business.

"I love him," Chimaev said with a grin during a media scrum on Tuesday. "They pay good for him, so that's the important thing. I never made that much money before. That's good."

The reigning UFC middleweight champion acknowledged that Strickland's relentless trash talk—including threats to wait in the hotel lobby and "shoot" anyone who approaches him wrong—has done wonders for the fight's hype. Despite talk of canceling faceoffs due to potential violence, Chimaev remains unfazed.

"Let him come," he said. "I think they took him to some other hotel. I don't know. I tried to find the guy, and that's not so much personal. The guy just talks too much."

Chimaev even dismissed the increased security around their fight week, quipping, "It's not for me. It's for his safety." He added that he's been waiting in the lobby for three days after Strickland's threats, saying, "Let's go. Do that. I will be happy to die."

While Chimaev appreciates the paycheck that comes from Strickland's antics, he's not interested in making amends after the bell. "What's the point if I shake hands or not?" he asked. "After the fight, I beat him up, maybe never see him again. Other 15 guys I've already beat, I almost didn't see them again. I don't care about his life, I'm doing my life."

The Chechen fighter also hinted that this bout at Newark's Prudential Center could be his last at 185 pounds, nodding when asked if he'd move up in weight after Saturday night. For now, though, all eyes are on the main event—and whether the pre-fight fireworks lead to an unforgettable showdown inside the Octagon.