Multiple training partners and coaches have commented on Sean Strickland's exceptional ability to get back to his feet in grappling exchanges ahead of his UFC 328 title fight against Khamzat Chimaev. Luke Rockhold stated that Strickland is incredibly difficult to keep down and will be Chimaev's toughest test. Jorge Masvidal noted that even when working with heavyweights, Strickland is extremely hard to hold down, adding that while Chimaev may take him down, holding him will be extraordinarily difficult. Sharaf Davlatmurodov praised Strickland's size for the weight class and wrestling ability, saying he personally found Strickland the most uncomfortable opponent and couldn't hold him down. The analysis suggests Strickland relies on creating frames and wrestling-based stand-ups rather than technical guard work, though whether this will be effective against Chimaev's elite grappling remains the central question of the fight.
Ahead of UFC 328, several prominent voices from Sean Strickland's training circle have gone public with assessments of his wrestling defense, framing his ability to return to his feet as a potential equalizer against Khamzat Chimaev's elite grappling.
Strickland, known as "Tarzan," enters the middleweight title fight as champion, carrying a 31-7 record at 35 years old. The six-foot-one, 193-centimeter Xtreme Couture product holds a 76-inch reach and has built his reputation as one of the division's most active strikers, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute. His takedown and submission numbers are modest, which makes the wrestling defense question central to how this fight plays out.
Luke Rockhold, the former middleweight champion now aged 41 and training out of American Kickboxing Academy, offered a direct endorsement. Rockhold stated that Strickland is incredibly difficult to keep down and described the upcoming matchup as Chimaev's toughest test. Rockhold himself stands six-foot-three with a 77-inch reach, making his testimony on the difficulty of holding Strickland down particularly notable.
Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old veteran known as "Gamebred" who competes out of American Top Team, added his own assessment. Masvidal acknowledged that Chimaev may succeed in taking Strickland down but argued that keeping him there will be extraordinarily difficult — a point he reinforced by noting Strickland is hard to control even when working with heavyweights in the gym.
Sharaf Davlatmurodov, another training partner with relevant grappling credentials, echoed those sentiments, citing Strickland's size for the weight class and describing him as the most uncomfortable opponent he has personally encountered on the mat.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's grappling dominance is widely considered his primary path to a finish, making Strickland's stand-up ability the fight's defining variable
- Praise from a heavyweight-tested training environment adds credibility to the wrestling defense claims
- If Strickland can consistently regain his feet, the fight likely favors his striking output of 6.04 significant strikes per minute
Saturday, May 9, 2026
