An in-depth analysis explores whether Sean Strickland can successfully get back to his feet after Khamzat Chimaev's takedowns. Training partners including Luke Rockhold, Jorge Masvidal, and Sharaf Davlatmurodov have praised Strickland's ability to stand up from bottom position, with Rockhold calling him incredibly difficult to hold down and Masvidal noting his success even against heavyweights. The analysis examines Strickland's past fights with Dricus du Plessis and Kamaru Usman for evidence. Against du Plessis, Strickland stood up quickly after six takedowns, though du Plessis lacked technical finishing ability. Against Usman nine years ago in a different weight class, Strickland was controlled for 4.5 minutes in the first round. The piece suggests Chimaev's superior transitional speed and technical control will likely prevent clean escapes.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
