Sean Strickland doesn\u2019t want his longtime teammate anywhere near the UFC.<\/strong><\/p>\n In only a number of weeks\u2019 time on May 9, UFC 328 lands in Newark, Recent Jersey with a middleweight title fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland headlining the cardboard.<\/p>\n Ahead of their highly anticipated clash, the pair of 185-pounders have been repeatedly going forwards and backwards with one another online.<\/p>\n And ahead of what is predicted to be a particularly feisty affair, Strickland and Chimaev\u2019s preparations appear to be going quite in a different way.<\/p>\n Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev finally get the possibility to settle their bitter feud at Prudential Center, can the American beat the champ?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Ahead of his first title defense, \u2018Borz\u2019 has been training at Santo Studios in California, where they’ve constructed a team filled with current and former MMA stars.<\/p>\n Strickland, alternatively, continues to be training at his longtime gym, Xtreme Couture, where he used to coach with the Chechen. In addition to training at Xtreme Couture, Strickland has continued to get sparring rounds in with Alex Pereira.<\/p>\n And ahead of his title fight against Chimaev, the previous middleweight champion has once more welcomed Johnny Eblen into the ultimate stages of his fight camp.<\/p>\n Although Eblen trains at American Top Team, he and Strickland often cross-train together ahead of their fights.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been scrapping Johnny! Never let this man come to the UFC. Keep his ass where he\u2019s at, f\u2014\u2014 savage, bro,\u201d Strickland said in a video on social media<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIf this man was within the UFC he\u2019d be fighting for the f\u2014\u2014 belt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Pressure\u2019 Eblen was the Bellator middleweight champion before their merger with the PFL, before then losing a PFL middleweight title fight against Costello Van Steenis.<\/p>\n Last 12 months, Eblen seemingly asked for his release from the PFL as he wanted to affix the UFC, nevertheless, things didn\u2019t come to fruition for him on the time.<\/p>\n And this past March, the 34-year-old returned to the win column when he submitted former UFC fighter Bryan Battle in the primary round of their PFL Pittsburgh fight.<\/p>\n With Eblen and Strickland in the identical weight class, it is probably going that Strickland is attempting to avoid a possible future clash against his teammate.<\/p>\n At this point, it’s unclear whether \u2018Pressure\u2019 Eblen continues to be eyeing a move to the premier MMA promotion, or if he’ll proceed his craft within the PFL.<\/p>\nWho wins within the foremost event of UFC 328 on May 9?<\/h3>\n
![\"Talking](\"https:\/\/bloodyelbow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/1\/2026\/03\/BE-17-819x1024.png\")
<\/div>Sean Strickland begs the UFC to never sign teammate Johnny Eblen<\/h2>\n
![\"Johnny](\"https:\/\/bloodyelbow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/1\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2036577513-1024x683.jpg\")
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