An in-depth tactical analysis suggests the main question in the Chimaev-Strickland fight is whether Strickland can get back to his feet after takedowns. Training partners including Luke Rockhold, Jorge Masvidal, and Sharaf Davlatmurodov describe Strickland as exceptionally difficult to control on the ground despite not being technically advanced in grappling. His standup ability comes from creating frames and wrestling explosiveness rather than guard technique. The analysis notes that only DDP and Usman previously managed to stand against Chimaev, with limited success. Strickland's fight with DDP showed he could stand quickly after six takedowns, but DDP's grappling was described as slower and less technical. The author believes Chimaev will likely hold Strickland against the cage and finish him, or if Strickland proves stronger than expected, Chimaev will transition to striking and win on points.
The central tactical question heading into the UFC 328 middleweight title fight between Khamzat Chimaev and champion Sean Strickland is a straightforward one: can Strickland get back to his feet when Chimaev puts him on the canvas?
Strickland, 35, enters the bout as the reigning middleweight champion with a professional record of 31-7. The American out of Xtreme Couture is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute, though his accuracy sits at 42 percent. He is not regarded as a technically polished grappler, averaging just 0.71 takedowns per fifteen minutes and 0.2 submission attempts in the same window.
Yet the tactical analysis leans heavily on testimony from training partners who know Strickland's ground game up close. Figures including Luke Rockhold, Jorge Masvidal, and Sharaf Davlatmurodov characterize Strickland as remarkably difficult to control on the mat. The assessment credits that quality not to guard technique but to an ability to create frames and generate explosive scrambles back to the feet.
The analysis points to Strickland's previous fight with Dricus Du Plessis as the key reference point. Du Plessis, now ranked second at middleweight at 32 years old and carrying a 23-3 record, took Strickland down six times in that contest, yet Strickland consistently returned to a standing position. However, the analysis cautions that Du Plessis's grappling was described as slower and less technical than what Chimaev is expected to bring.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's ability to hold opponents against the cage and grind them down is considered his most dangerous weapon in this matchup
- Only Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman previously managed to remain upright against Chimaev for meaningful stretches, with limited success
- If Strickland's scrambling proves sufficient, the fight shifts to a striking battle where the champion has a clear volume advantage
- The analysis concludes Chimaev wins either by finishing Strickland against the fence or, if outmuscled there, by controlling the pace and taking a points decision
Saturday, May 9, 2026
