The Daniel Cormier Show - DC REACTS to INSANE Khamzat Chimaev & Sean Strickland BEEF ahead of UFC 328

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Daniel Cormier Show – DC REACTS to INSANE Khamzat Chimaev & Sean Strickland BEEF ahead of UFC 328

Date: May 8, 2026
Host: Daniel Cormier
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd (iHeartPodcasts and The Volume)
Episode: The Daniel Cormier Show - DC REACTS to INSANE Khamzat Chimaev & Sean Strickland BEEF ahead of UFC 328

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Episode Overview

Daniel Cormier dives into the intense animosity and escalating feud between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland leading up to their UFC 328 bout. Cormier examines the roots of their conflict, breaks down recent statements and incidents, and provides insider perspectives on training footage, gym rumors, and the genuine bad blood fueling this matchup. He shares concerns, insights, and anticipates the fight’s outcome, maintaining his trademark witty, candid, and fan-centric tone.

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Main Discussion Topics & Insights

1. The Escalating Feud: “It is nasty. It is nasty.” (02:17)

• Cormier sets the scene: UFC 328 is imminent, featuring a highly volatile matchup between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland.
• Bad blood explanation: Unlike other rivalries, the animosity is so intense that there are strict media controls and minimal pre-fight interactions out of concern for real violence.
• Rivalry scale: Cormier compares this beef to legendary UFC rivalries (e.g., Khabib vs. Conor, himself vs. Jon Jones), but insists, “I don't know if we've ever seen a fight that's nastier than this.” (03:27)

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2. Media Scrums & Extreme Threats

• Unprecedented threats: Both fighters have crossed lines; Chimaev said he would kill Strickland, Strickland responded saying he'd shoot Chimaev.
  • Quote – Daniel Cormier: “There was a point where Hamza said he was going to kill him. Sean Strickland said he was going to shoot him. These guys are going to depths that we have not seen in a really long time.” (03:23)
• Underlying mystery: Cormier wonders what truly sparked the vitriol: “There has to be something underlying that made this as bad as it did. ... What happened behind that we aren't seeing that makes you guys despise each other to the point that we are talking about stuff like death?” (04:33)
• Safety precautions: The promotion is allegedly keeping them apart, even in different hotels, to prevent any physical altercation.

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3. Training History & Released Sparring Footage (08:04)

• Their shared past: Once training partners, now bitter enemies. Cormier explores this strange evolution: “What happened? ... To go from sparring footage... to hated rivals now—what happened?” (05:34)
• Leaked sparring video: The footage doesn't show any significant animosity or dominance; “That was two guys moving around at a pretty measured pace.” (08:50)
• Contrast with other rivalries: He mentions the infamous T.J. Dillashaw vs. Cody Garbrandt leaked training knockout, arguing that this Chimaev-Strickland clip offers no tactical clues.
• Memorable reflection: “I can't look at that footage and say that is going to give me an idea that of who holds the advantage.” (09:22)

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4. Inside the Fighters’ Mindsets & Camps

• Chimaev’s perspective: Unafraid and openly invites conflict.
  • Quote – Daniel Cormier paraphrasing Chimaev: “I will be happy to die. I don't care about that shit. This is Chemaev, right? This is Jamiah speaking about when Strickland said he was going to shoot him.” (06:55)
  • Cormier on Chimaev: “He told me himself. He goes, ‘I'm a crazy mf. I'm a crazy... whatever.’ He's crazy. He does not fear anything.” (07:15)
• Strickland’s attitude: Known for wild statements and being unafraid of confrontation.
  • Reads and reacts to Strickland’s rant about dignity and calling Chimaev a “third world dog.” (Strickland quote at 08:32)
  • Cormier makes it clear: “These guys hate each other. Guys. They cannot stand each other. That's bad.” (08:54)
• Camp behavior: Sean walks around solo, Chimaev has a crew; both have been instructed to keep the peace pre-fight.

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5. Gym Rumors & Current Form

• Camp tales: Chimaev “doing things to people, high level people that we've never been seen before”—reportedly knocking people out in training. (11:02)
• Strickland seen at Extreme Couture: Calm, collected, coaching others, not outwardly fazed.

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6. Anticipated Violence vs. Pre-fight Restraint

• Promotion’s caution: UFC is taking extra steps (e.g., new press conference desk configurations) to minimize risk of altercations before the Octagon door closes.
• Comparisons to past incidents: Cormier references Conor vs. Khabib—emphasizing that even there, threats of murder were absent.
  • “I don't know that we ever heard them threatening to kill each other. So that tells you what to expect come Saturday night, guys. It's bad. It's bad, but it's so good.” (13:02)
• Cormier’s excitement: “When it's real, you can feel it. And I feel like right now, it's real.” (13:36)
• Final preview: Expresses anticipation for a legitimate war in the Octagon, noting that only a “very, very small” concern exists for a letdown on fight night.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the rivalry’s intensity:
  “I love mess. I love when people don't like each other when they're going to fight.”
  (02:45, Daniel Cormier)

• On Chimaev’s fearlessness:
  “He fights like he doesn't fear anything.”
  (07:20, Daniel Cormier)

• On Strickland’s mindset:
  “That's again why we go back to Chemaev and I say, he doesn't have effing dignity. When in my life would you ever hear me say I'm going to jump you or my friends are going to jump you... It's like, dude, you just act like an effing coward... You think my fans would ever jump you? No, because my fans have effing dignity. They're effing men, unlike you. ... a third world dog.”
  (08:32, Sean Strickland, read by Daniel Cormier)

• On what’s at stake:
  “Wouldn't have something so bad, been so good. I'm here for it, man. I could talk about these two dudes hating each other all day long. Because it's real. And when it's real, you can feel it.”
  (13:25, Daniel Cormier)

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Key Timestamps

• 02:17 – Cormier introduces the “nasty” feud and its impact on pre-fight events.
• 03:23 – 04:33 – Explores threats and wonders what truly caused the beef.
• 06:55 – Discusses Chimaev’s lack of fear and response to threats.
• 08:04–09:22 – Covers leaked sparring footage and its lack of insight.
• 11:02 – Chimaev’s camp dominance rumors.
• 13:02–13:36 – Anticipates the press conference and highlights “it’s real, you can feel it.”

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Conclusion

Daniel Cormier delivers an inside-out breakdown of the unprecedented, volatile feud between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland, highlighting the simmering tension, severe threats, personal animosities, and the UFC’s efforts to keep them apart until fight night. His analysis captures the anticipation and gravity of this matchup—where true dislike, fan fascination, and the unpredictability of the sport converge.

Cormier’s energy encapsulates the episode: “Let's see that action come Saturday night. Until next time, guys. I can't wait to get to New Jersey. I cannot wait. I'm on my way. Let's go.” (13:55)

Transcript

[Daniel Cormier]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

And, Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Comedy Show Host]

Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Daniel Cormier]

Oh, no.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Comedy Show Host]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Anyways, get a [e-mail] or with your local agent.

[Comedy Show Host]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. The volume.

[Daniel Cormier]

All right, guys, UFC 328 is coming up soon, so why not get with our friends at Hard Rock Bet? Well, listen to this one. You bet $5. If that bet wins, you get $150 in bonus bets. Like, that's pretty good. You only got to bet 5, then you can win 150 in bonus bets. Hard Rock Bets understands that they want you in. They want you a part of our family, especially when it comes to UFC 328. Yamzad and Strickland is so bad and violent. This fight is going to be bananas. Then you got the champ, Joshua Van, fighting Tatsuro Tyra, who looked amazing in his fight last against the former champion, Brandon Moreno. This fight card is going to be bananas. So. So make sure that you hook up with the people or our people at Hard Rock. Bet again. Bet only $5. If that bet wins, get $150 in bonus bets instantly at Hard Rock. Bet payable and bonus bets is not a cash offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. In Florida, offered by Seminole hard Rock Digital LLC. In all other states, you must be 21 or older and and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia. To play, terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling In Florida, call 1888. Admit I t. In Indiana, if you are someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1809 with it. And if you have a gambling problem, call 1-800- GAMBLER. What's up, guys? Welcome to a brand new episode here at Daniel Cormier tv. Brought to you by Total Wireless, the official wireless provider of UFC. They are in your corner with unlimited 5G data. That will not slow you down. Now that is a total power move, guys. You want to talk about big fight, man? You want to talk about a big fight? You want to talk about a fight with bad blood? That is exactly what we got this weekend at UFC328. Now, I'm still in Vegas right now because I had some things to do for the Ultimate Fighter. But I guarantee you, had I been scheduled to sit with Sean Strickland or Hamza Chimaev, I would have absolutely made it to New Jersey. Everything else would have had to stay, deal with whatever. I, I wouldn't have cared. But unfortunately these guys are not necessarily speaking too much. Media even the boy didn't really do those types of sit down interviews because it is nasty. It is nasty. And look, I have told you guys time and time again that I love mess. I love when people don't like each other when they're going to fight. I didn't mind when Monel Kopp and I can't remember the kid's name, little Russian kid fought in the lobby out in Australia. What I didn't like was how when they got inside the Octagon they were kind of pity patting and kind of just playing around. I didn't love that. I wanted to see them fight because they hated each other, right? There were threats of violence. There was violence. This one here with Chimaev and Strickland, they are going to extreme lengths to try to assure and ensure there is no violence. That's how ugly this thing has gotten. It's gotten so bad that these gentlemen are speaking to media scrums because of the things that they are saying when they are talking about each other. There was a point where Hamza said he was going to kill him. Sean Strickland said he was going to shoot him. These guys are going to depths that we have not seen in a really long time. They, they like to say it's like Khabib and Conor, me and John, we said a lot of wild things. I don't know if we've ever seen a fight that's nastier than this. It gives me the idea that if these dudes actually got around each other during the time before the fight that some real bad shit might happen. But I always wonder what made this come about, truly, because all the things we see in the public, while there is some truth to it, there has to be something underlying that made this as bad as it did. I did a video a long time ago talking about how Sean Stripland, after he beat Fluffy Hernandez was doing exactly what he needed to do to make himself a viable contender for the Middleweight championship. We all thought it was going to be a mov off ultimately became Strickland because of the things that he said. But for them to be or to go from sparring footage which we will touch on training Together, which we will touch on to hated rivals. Now, what happened? What happened? I get it. You might feel disrespected because Strickland says some wild stuff. You might feel disrespected because Khamzat says some wild stuff. But what happened behind that we aren't seeing that makes you guys despise each other to the point that we are talking about stuff like death. What happened? Somebody got to tell me. And I'm going to go ask him. When I get there, I'm going to ask because I got to know now. Will it change how much I want to see these two fight? No, but it'll give me some. Some background into as what turned this thing so ugly. So yesterday, they're doing media and they're talking and Chemaev said, they won't let me see this guy. I don't know where he is. I've been here three days in the lobby. I'll tell you this much. They're not staying in the same place. I don't think. I don't think these dudes can even stay in the same hotel. I actually thought after the Armin Tsurukian thing with Bobby Green, I don't know why certain fighters are staying in the same hotel. But Chemaev, that's your answer. You guys aren't in the same place. And I think that's the right decision. The guy says he's going to shoot me. Let's do that. Let's go. I would be happy to die. Hamza says that the security is not for him, it's for his safety. And when the time comes to die, I will be happy. I don't care about that shit. This is Chamia, right? This is Jamiah speaking about when Strickland said he was going to shoot him. Obviously, you guys know that Khamzat Chimaev is a guy that doesn't fear much, right? He's crazy. He told me himself. He goes, I'm a crazy mf. I'm a crazy. You know, whatever. He's crazy. He does not fear anything. Khamzat Chimaev lives like a guy that doesn't fear anything. He fights like he doesn't fear anything. So for him hearing Sean say that, in his mind, he's like, let me test that. Does he really have that ability or does he really have that. That. That. Is he that tough that he said he wants to put. Put one in me and kill me? Show me. Most people take that. That threat and are fearful. Not Hamzat Chamayev. He will never be fearful of anything like that because that is not what he is made of. But then you get a guy in Sean Strickland, while he is saying all this wild stuff. We have seen him act on a lot of those things. We've seen this. Now I'm going to read this Strickland quote. This is the first time I've seen it. This is again why we go back to Chemaev and I say, he doesn't have effing dignity. When in my life would you ever hear me say I'm going to jump you or my friends are going to jump you or my religion is going to jump you or mom going to do this. It's like, dude, you just act like an effing coward. Chun goes on to call him a dog. I would never say that. You think my fans would ever jump you? No, because my fans have effing dignity. They're effing men, unlike you. And then he went on to call them a third world dog. These guys hate each other. Guys. They cannot stand each other. That's bad. That's bad. And then you start hearing the stories of the training. In our time, I did this to him. In our time, I did this to him. Generally, what happens in that gym stays in the gym. We don't talk about it. We don't talk about it. But these guys are. And not only are they talking about it, now footage is getting released of the training. Here's why I don't get it though. When I watched that training footage, it looked like to me, two guys kind of moving around, nobody moving with ill intent. It would seem if you put those two anywhere near each other right now, the intentions would be nasty. They'd be real. They want to kill each other. But back then, that footage didn't tell me that anybody got the better of the other. That was two guys moving around at a pretty measured pace. Now, when T.J. dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt were sparring back in the day, that footage got released and we saw TJ get dropped. That was intense. Obviously, TJ went on to drop him and win the fight. But in the training room, that footage showed us something that we could take and try to apply it to the fight. As a person that's going to sit at the commentary table on Saturday, I can't look at that footage and say that is going to give me an idea that of who holds the advantage. It just didn't show enough. It didn't show me enough in that short video to build an Idea or try to come up with a result in my mind as to what will happen. It just wasn't that. But the footage was released. You know, my only concern is that we don't get that explosive fight that these guys are almost guaranteeing us. How big of a concern? Very, very small. It's a very small concern, but that's my. That would be my only concern. Now, when talking to the media yesterday, obviously Strickland saw that Brennan Allen was training with Khamzat Chimaev Hated that. He absolutely hated that. Called Brendan Allen just the worst of the worst things that you could imagine. That's what Sean does. And I think that that is why there is so much nervousness around putting cameras in front of Sean Strickel Hamza, on the other hand, spoke a little bit on Countdown about how he thought that the fight with Dricus would be a little tougher. Khamzat, what I hear in his training camps are doing things to people, high level people that we've never been seen before. I heard that guys are afraid to engage with him in the sparring. I heard that people are getting knocked out in the gym. By Sean Strickland. Sorry. By Hamza Chimaev. I actually saw Sean Strickland the other day at Extreme Couture. He didn't seem nervous, he didn't seem anxious. He seemed like he's ready to go fight this dude. And I don't know if you guys have seen or many people have seen Sean in his day to day, he isn't like, loud yet. He's kind of was walking around the gym coaching as I had my guys in there sparring. But what I do know is Sean Strickland is walking around New Jersey by himself. Khamzat Chimaev has a crew of people like he always does. Khamzat Chimaev's crew has also been told not to put the fight in jeopardy by doing anything crazy. So essentially, Sean Strickland being by himself doesn't really matter because they are told not to make anything happen. You guys know what happened with Khabib and Conor? Conor's crew attacked Khabib when he was on the bus. Khabib's crew, or Khabib himself, slaps Artem when he sees him in New Jersey. Nasty. I don't know that we ever heard them threatening to kill each other. So that tells you what to expect come Saturday night, guys. It's bad. It's bad, but it's so good. Wouldn't have something so bad been so good I'm here for it, man. I could talk about these two dudes hating each other all day long. All day long. Because it's real. And when it's real, you can feel it. When it's real, you can feel it. And I feel like right now, it's real. I'm interested to see what the press conference looks like come Thursday. I'm hearing the desk configuration and stuff will be much different than what we're used to. I guess we don't see because they got to keep these cats away from each other, man, until Saturday. And when that octagon door closes, Hamza said Sean can't possibly believe that he can fight him. Sean said he was letting him work in the gym. Hey, all. All bets are off. These cats are talking. Let's see that action come Saturday night. Until next time, guys. I can't wait to get to New Jersey. I cannot wait. I'm on my way. I'm on my way. Let's go.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mut. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Comedy Show Host]

Hey, everyone. Check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Daniel Cormier]

Oh, no.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual Together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Comedy Show Host]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Anyways, get a [e-mail] or with your local agent.

[Comedy Show Host]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.

[Daniel Cormier]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.