Dana White scored UFC 328 main event 48-47 for Strickland

UFC president Dana White revealed his personal scorecard for the UFC 328 middleweight title fight, disclosing that he had Sean Strickland edging Khamzat Chimaev 48-47 on his unofficial tally — a result that matched the majority of the official judges at the event on May 9.

White's card had the fight deadlocked at 2-2 heading into the fifth and final round, underscoring just how competitive the championship bout was throughout. He credited Strickland with taking the decisive final frame, which pushed the champion over the line on his scorecard. Two of the three official judges agreed, returning 48-47 verdicts for Strickland, while the third saw it 47-48 in favor of Chimaev.

Sean Strickland, 35, retained his middleweight championship with the victory, improving his record to 31-7-0. The American out of Xtreme Couture carries a six-foot-one frame and a 76-inch reach, and is one of the most active strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute across his career.

Chimaev, 32, came up just short in his bid to claim middleweight gold, slipping to 15-1-0. The UAE-based Swede had entered the fight ranked first in the division and tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Chimaev is a relentless wrestler who averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 60 percent of his significant strikes — the most accurate mark of either fighter.

Why it matters

• The split-judge outcome confirms this was one of the most competitive middleweight title fights in recent memory
• Chimaev remains the division's top contender at 15-1-0, keeping the rematch conversation alive
• Strickland's retention cements his standing as champion despite a style matchup that played heavily into Chimaev's grappling-heavy game