Khamzat Chimaev is keeping his cool ahead of UFC 328, brushing off Sean Strickland's increasingly dark trash talk as the two prepare to clash in the main event on May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Chimaev, who boasts an undefeated 15-0 record, will defend his middleweight title against Strickland (30-7) in what promises to be a high-stakes showdown.

While Strickland's pre-fight rhetoric has taken a sinister turn—including death threats and promises to confront Chimaev in the hotel lobby—the champion remains unshaken. In fact, Chimaev claims he's been waiting for Strickland to show up for three days straight. "They won't let me see this guy. I don't know where he is. I've been here three days in the lobby," Chimaev told MMAFighting during UFC 328 media day. "The guy says he's going to shoot me, let's go. Do that, I will be happy to die."

UFC president Dana White has already confirmed there will be no face-off between the two fighters, citing heightened security measures. Chimaev, however, believes the extra protection isn't for him. "The security is not for me. It's for his safety," he said matter-of-factly, adding, "When the time comes to die I will be happy. I don't care about that sh*t."

Strickland has been pulling no punches outside the octagon, targeting Chimaev's race, ethnicity, and training partners. But Chimaev's teammate Brendan Allen says the camp is simply amused by the antics. With Strickland's threats escalating—he even warned he'd shoot Chimaev and his team if they tried to jump him—the calm demeanor of the champion stands in stark contrast. For fans gearing up for this fight, it's clear that Chimaev is locked in, unfazed by the noise, and ready to let his performance do the talking. Whether Strickland's mind games will pay off or backfire remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the tension is at an all-time high for this UFC 328 main event.