An extensive technical analysis examines Sean Strickland's ability to defend takedowns and get back to his feet against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328. According to training partners, Strickland is exceptionally difficult to hold down despite not having elite grappling technique. Luke Rockhold stated that Strickland is frustratingly hard to keep grounded and will be Chimaev's toughest test. Jorge Masvidal confirmed witnessing Strickland's ability to stand up even against heavyweights during training. Sharaf Davlatmurodov noted that Strickland constantly works with college wrestlers and is skilled at breaking grip controls and standing up through wrestling-based explosiveness rather than technical guard work. The analysis suggests Strickland likely cannot completely separate from Chimaev at the fence but may be able to create enough space in scrambles to exhaust the Chechen fighter or defend submissions effectively enough to force Chimaev onto the feet.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
