A detailed analysis explores Sean Strickland's ability to get back to his feet against Khamzat Chimaev's takedowns. Former training partners Luke Rockhold and Jorge Masvidal both emphasized how difficult Strickland is to hold down, with Rockhold calling it frustrating and Masvidal noting he's hard to control even for heavyweights. Sharaf Davlatmurodov stated Strickland constantly works with college wrestlers and is excellent at breaking grips and standing up. The analysis compares Strickland's previous performances against Dricus Du Plessis (who took him down six times but couldn't hold him) and Kamaru Usman (from nine years ago in a different weight class). The piece suggests the first takedown will reveal whether Strickland can escape Chimaev's control and notes Chimaev's speed and technical superiority in transitions.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
