Alexander Volkov has shared his evaluation of Sean Strickland's prospects in the upcoming bout with Khamzat Chimaev. The heavyweight contender offered his perspective on whether Strickland can pull off a surprise or if Chimaev will dominate without difficulty. Volkov's comments add to the growing discourse surrounding this high-profile middleweight matchup. The post includes a poll asking fans whether they believe Strickland can surprise or if Chimaev will roll through him. Volkov's insight carries weight as a fellow UFC fighter familiar with high-level competition. His assessment comes just before UFC 328, where the two middleweights will settle the question.
Alexander Volkov has weighed in on the middleweight clash between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev set for UFC 328, offering his read on whether the champion can hold his own against one of the division's most dangerous challengers.
Volkov, known as "Drago," brings credible perspective as a fellow UFC veteran operating at the top of the heavyweight division. The 37-year-old Russian holds a 40-11 record and currently sits as the number-one ranked heavyweight contender. Standing six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach and a striking accuracy of 57 percent, Volkov has navigated elite-level competition long enough to assess what separates fighters at the championship level.
On one side of the equation is Strickland, the 35-year-old American champion out of Xtreme Couture. "Tarzan" carries a 31-7 record and is one of the most active strikers in the middleweight division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach at six-foot-one. His wrestling output is modest, averaging 0.71 takedowns per 15 minutes, which could be a factor against his upcoming opponent.
That opponent is Khamzat Chimaev, the number-one ranked middleweight and number-ten pound-for-pound fighter on the roster. The 30-year-old "Borz," representing the UAE and training out of Allstars Training Center, carries a 15-1 record and presents a suffocating grappling threat, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same span. His striking accuracy of 60 percent makes him dangerous on the feet as well.
Why it matters
- Strickland's title is directly on the line against the division's top-ranked contender
- Chimaev's elite takedown volume poses a specific problem for a striker-first champion
- Volkov's assessment, coming from an active top-ranked fighter, adds informed external perspective to a matchup that has generated significant debate
