Tapology has added a new feature that rates the level of opposition faced by UFC fighters. The rating is calculated using a specific formula and expressed as a number between 1 and 99, considering only a fighter's last six UFC bouts. At UFC 328, Sean Strickland leads with a rating of 74, followed by Khamzat Chimaev at 69 and Alexander Volkov at 67. Joaquin Buckley and Sean Brady round out the top five with ratings of 55 and 54 respectively. The lowest-rated fighters on the card include Baysangur Susurkaev and Ozzy Diaz, both at 4, with several others rated below 10.
Tapology has rolled out a new opponent quality rating system for UFC fighters ahead of UFC 328, assigning each competitor a score between 1 and 99 based on the level of opposition they have faced across their last six promotional bouts.
The feature places middleweight champion Sean Strickland at the top of the UFC 328 card with a rating of 74. The 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture carries a 31-7-0 record and is one of the most active strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy. His six-foot-one frame and 76-inch reach have been constant features of a grinding, high-output style that has kept him at the top of the 185-pound division.
Khamzat Chimaev slots in second on the card at 69, though his verified fighter data was not included in the current dataset. Heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov ranks third with a rating of 67. Known as "Drago," the 37-year-old Russian stands six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach and owns a 40-11-0 professional record. He lands 4.78 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 57 percent accuracy, making him one of the more technically precise heavyweights in the division, where he currently holds the number one contender ranking.
Welterweight Sean Brady rounds out the top five with a rating of 54, one point behind Joaquin Buckley. The 33-year-old Philadelphia product trains out of Renzo Gracie Philly and holds a 19-2-0 record, currently ranked seventh in the welterweight division. Brady is a relentless pressure wrestler, averaging 3.53 takedowns per 15 minutes with a 55 percent striking accuracy.
Why it matters
- The rating system highlights scheduling disparities across the card, separating fighters who have faced elite opposition from those who have not
- Strickland's top score reinforces his title-level competition history heading into UFC 328
- Volkov's high rating strengthens the case for his number one contender standing at heavyweight
- Lower-rated fighters such as Baysangur Susurkaev and Ozzy Diaz, both at 4, have significantly less proven competition on their recent resumes
Saturday, May 9, 2026
