Khamzat Chimaev Drops Khalil Rountree Jr. in Sparring Ahead of UFC 328 Title Defense

The middleweight champion showcases his striking power against the light heavyweight contender.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:55am

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In new training footage, UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is seen sparring with several partners, including light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree Jr. The video shows Chimaev dropping Rountree with a powerful overhand right, demonstrating the Russian fighter's striking skills ahead of his title defense against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in May.

Why it matters

Chimaev's dominant performance against Rountree, who gave Alex Pereira a tough fight, suggests the champion's striking has continued to improve. This could be a concerning sign for his upcoming opponent Strickland, who will be looking to dethrone the undefeated Chimaev at UFC 328.

The details

The 32-second video, shared by UFC Eurasia, shows Chimaev sparring with multiple training partners. The most notable exchange is between Chimaev and Rountree, where the middleweight champion lands a clean overhand right that forces Rountree to one knee. Rountree appeared to be fine after the exchange, but it was a clear demonstration of Chimaev's striking power.

  • Chimaev's last fight was a title-winning performance against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in August 2025.
  • Chimaev's first 185lb title defense will be against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026.

The players

Khamzat Chimaev

The undefeated UFC middleweight champion, known for his dominant wrestling and improving striking skills.

Khalil Rountree Jr.

A light heavyweight contender who gave Alex Pereira a tough fight at UFC 307 in 2024.

Sean Strickland

The challenger who will face Chimaev for the UFC middleweight title at UFC 328.

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What’s next

Khamzat Chimaev will defend his UFC middleweight title against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026, in Newark, New Jersey.

The takeaway

Chimaev's dominant sparring performance against a tough light heavyweight contender like Rountree suggests the champion's striking skills have continued to improve, which could spell trouble for his upcoming title defense against Strickland at UFC 328.