An in-depth analysis examines whether Sean Strickland can successfully get back to his feet against Khamzat Chimaev's elite grappling. Multiple training partners have weighed in on Strickland's ability to stand up from bottom position. Luke Rockhold noted that while Strickland isn't the most technical grappler, he's extremely difficult to hold down, making him Chimaev's toughest test. Jorge Masvidal confirmed seeing Strickland work with heavyweights and consistently getting back up, suggesting Chimaev will struggle to maintain control. Sharaf Davlatmurodov stated Strickland was the most difficult opponent he personally tried to control, crediting his wrestling fundamentals and ability to break grips. The analysis suggests Strickland's wrestling-based scrambles rather than technical guard work will be key, though concerns remain whether he can fully separate from Chimaev's clinch control at the cage.
Ahead of UFC 328, analysts and training partners have turned their attention to one of the fight's most compelling questions: can Sean Strickland stay upright against Khamzat Chimaev's relentless grappling attack?
Strickland, known by the nickname "Tarzan," enters the bout as the reigning middleweight champion with a record of 31-7-0. The 35-year-old Xtreme Couture product stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and is one of the division's most active strikers, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute. His takedown rate of 0.71 per 15 minutes hints at a baseline wrestling game that rarely gets discussed given his volume on the feet.
Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, a 41-year-old American Kickboxing Academy veteran who stands six-foot-three with a 77-inch reach and carries a 16-6-0 professional record, offered a notable assessment. While Rockhold acknowledged that Strickland is not the most polished technical grappler, he emphasized that Strickland is exceptionally hard to keep grounded — framing the matchup as perhaps the sternest test Chimaev has faced.
Jorge Masvidal, the 35-17-0 veteran from American Top Team, added credibility to that view. "Gamebred" confirmed personally witnessing Strickland work with heavyweights in training and consistently returning to his feet, suggesting Chimaev may find sustained control far more difficult than expected.
Teammate Sharaf Davlatmurodov went further, stating Strickland was the single most difficult training partner he had tried to control, pointing to strong grip-breaking fundamentals and effective wrestling-based scrambles.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's elite grappling is considered his primary path to finishing Strickland, making takedown defense the fight's central variable
- Analysts believe Strickland's scrambling ability, rather than formal guard work, will determine how much cage time Chimaev can sustain
- Clinch control at the fence remains the one area where concerns linger about Strickland's ability to fully disengage
- The middleweight title picture hinges directly on whether Strickland can keep the fight standing long enough to work his striking volume
Saturday, May 9, 2026
