A detailed breakdown examines Sean Strickland's prospects against Khamzat Chimaev, focusing on Strickland's ability to get back to his feet after being taken down. Multiple training partners have commented on Strickland's scrambling ability. Luke Rockhold stated Strickland is incredibly hard to keep down, while Jorge Masvidal noted he has seen Strickland work with heavyweights and consistently get back up. Sharaf Davlatmurodov described Strickland as very difficult to control on the ground, saying he breaks grips well and feels wrestling naturally despite not having a technical guard. The analysis notes that only Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman have previously succeeded in getting up from under Chimaev, making Strickland's ability to do so a critical factor. The piece suggests Chimaev will likely control Strickland against the cage and may finish the fight with ground strikes or a submission.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
