Multiple training partners have weighed in on Sean Strickland's wrestling defense ahead of his UFC 328 bout with Khamzat Chimaev. Luke Rockhold stated Strickland is extremely difficult to hold down despite not being a high-level grappler, calling him Chimaev's toughest test. Jorge Masvidal echoed this assessment, noting Strickland trains with heavyweights and is incredibly hard to control on the ground. Training partner Sharaf Davlatmurodov said Strickland constantly works with collegiate wrestlers and is skilled at standing back up and breaking grips, predicting Chimaev could only hold him for about 1.5 rounds. Analysis suggests Strickland's ability to create frames and execute wrestling-based escapes will be crucial, though observers note his past performances against Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usaman show vulnerabilities against elite grapplers.
Sean Strickland's training partners have been making their voices heard ahead of UFC 328, with several prominent names vouching for the middleweight champion's ability to neutralize Khamzat Chimaev's elite grappling.
Strickland, known by the nickname "Tarzan," holds a 31-7-0 record and is the reigning middleweight champion at 35 years old. The American out of Xtreme Couture is primarily known as a high-volume striker, averaging 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute with a 42 percent accuracy rate. His takedown rate sits at just 0.71 per 15 minutes, underlining that his wrestling is built around defense and survival rather than offense.
Former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, a 41-year-old six-foot-three southpaw out of American Kickboxing Academy, described Strickland as extremely difficult to hold down despite not being a high-level grappler, calling the Chimaev matchup the toughest test of Chimaev's career. Jorge Masvidal reinforced that view, pointing to Strickland's habit of training with heavyweights as evidence of how hard he is to control on the mat. Training partner Sharaf Davlatmurodov added further detail, noting Strickland constantly drills with collegiate wrestlers and has developed sharp grip-breaking and stand-up skills — estimating Chimaev could realistically hold him down for only around one and a half rounds.
Observers have also flagged that Strickland's record is not without grappling vulnerabilities. His performances against Dricus Du Plessis — the second-ranked middleweight at 23-3-0 who averages 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes — and Kamaru Usman both revealed areas that skilled wrestlers can exploit.
Why it matters
- The middleweight title is on the line, with Chimaev's grappling representing arguably the most serious threat Strickland has faced in that phase of the game.
- Strickland's ability to stay upright and reset to striking range could determine whether the champion dictates the pace of the fight.
- Du Plessis, ranked second at 185 pounds, looms as a future challenger depending on how the division reshuffles after UFC 328.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
