If Hamzat Chimaev defeats Sean Strickland at UFC 328, he would achieve a remarkable 10-fight UFC winning streak that includes victories over four UFC champions. The analysis highlights Chimaev's unprecedented start in the UFC, including three wins in 66 days and two victories in just 10 days, both modern-era records. His potential 10-fight streak would feature wins over champions at their peak, including Robert Whittaker, Kevin Holland, and Li Jingliang, plus a slightly past-prime Kamaru Usman. The post emphasizes not just who Chimaev has beaten, but the dominant manner of his victories, particularly his aggressive wrestling style. However, the author expresses some concern about Chimaev potentially struggling with takedowns against Strickland.
Recent analysis argues that a Hamzat Chimaev victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 328 would place the Chechen-Swedish contender among the most dominant forces in UFC history, giving him a ten-fight winning streak inside the promotion that includes victories over four UFC champions.
The piece centers on the sheer quality of names Chimaev has dispatched and the manner in which he has done it. Among the highlights are wins over middleweight contender Robert Whittaker and Kevin Holland. Whittaker, currently ranked sixth in the middleweight division, carries a 27-9 record and at 35 years old remains one of the more durable and experienced fighters on the roster. Holland, the six-foot-three "Trailblazer" out of Phalanx MMA Academy, holds a 29-15 mark and lands 4.26 significant strikes per minute with 49 percent accuracy. The analysis also credits Chimaev with a win over a slightly past-prime Kamaru Usman, further underlining the championship pedigree of his résumé.
Standing across from Chimaev at UFC 328 is the reigning middleweight champion Sean Strickland. The 35-year-old American, training out of Xtreme Couture, owns a 31-7 record and is one of the busiest strikers in the division at 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute. His 76-inch reach and orthodox stance make him a constant pressure problem. Strickland does not rely on the grappling game, averaging just 0.71 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- A Chimaev win would give him ten consecutive UFC victories, a streak built heavily against champion-level opposition.
- The analysis flags Chimaev's wrestling as his primary weapon, but notes uncertainty about whether he can secure takedowns against Strickland's defensive wrestling.
- Strickland defending his middleweight title keeps one of the division's most active strikers at the top, complicating Chimaev's path to gold.
- The outcome carries significant divisional reshuffling implications, with Whittaker already sitting at sixth in the rankings and the title picture tightly contested.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
