Di tension for UFC 328 don reach boiling point as Khamzat Chimaev kick Sean Strickland during their face-off, even with armed police dey stage.
As di two fighters dey exchange insults, Chimaev wey security dey hold back beckon Strickland to come near, then launch kick for di American.
Di crowd dey roar as security and armed police escort each fighter off stage for different directions, while dem continue to dey hurl bad words at each other.
Di Russian-Emirati middleweight champion Chimaev go defend im belt against Strickland for Newark, New Jersey dis Saturday.
Strickland don dey throw many offensive comments wey touch Chimaev religion and heritage, and even threaten to shoot am if im and im team confront am before di fight.
UFC don hire extra security to protect each fighter and keep dem for separate hotels.
Chimaev wey don dey calm throughout fight week become animated during di news conference, and respond with ugly comments about childhood trauma wey Strickland don talk about before.
Strickland reply say, “You dey make fun of child abuse,” and follow with more bad words.
UFC president Dana White wey stand between dem say di rivalry be “top-three” heated of all time, and im no expect any disciplinary action because im support free speech.
White don talk before say, “I think probably di most important free speech to protect na hate speech, because when government or person determine say dis be hate speech, e be slippery slope and dangerous.”
Strickland no show say di kick hurt am, and write for social media say, “Exactly what I expect a coward to do.”
E no clear whether New Jersey Athletic Control Board go punish Chimaev for di altercation.
Di rivalry between Strickland and Chimaev don be debacle wey dey wait to happen throughout fight week.
Strickland be di main antagonist wey launch offensive comments, cause Chimaev to retaliate for unsavoury fashion during di news conference, turn di event into uncomfortable spectacle where both fighters dey shout over each other.
E no surprise say Chimaev hit out, but e raise concern about dia potential interactions for di rest of di week, including Friday ceremonial weigh-ins and fight aftermath.
Di controversy dey build hype and make fans want to tune in, but serious questions remain about whether promoting fights via deeply personal and offensive comments cross line.
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