Dana White scored UFC 328 main event 2-2 heading into fifth round

UFC President Dana White has revealed how he personally scored the UFC 328 middleweight title fight between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev, disclosing that he had the bout deadlocked at two rounds apiece heading into the championship round.

White stated publicly that he believed Strickland took the fifth and final round, a view that aligned with the split decision outcome, which resulted in Strickland being crowned the new middleweight champion at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026.

Strickland, now 31-7-0, claimed the middleweight title at 35 years old, fighting out of Xtreme Couture. The six-foot-one American carries a 76-inch reach and is known for an exceptionally high output, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute throughout his career. His orthodox stance and constant forward pressure have defined him as one of the division's most durable competitors.

Chimaev, fighting out of Allstars Training Center and representing the United Arab Emirates, drops to 15-1-0 with the defeat. The six-foot-two, 32-year-old entered the fight ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. "Borz" brings elite wrestling to the cage, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 60 percent, making him one of the most complete fighters in the sport.

Why it matters

• Strickland's victory marks his return to the top of the middleweight division, defeating its top-ranked contender
• Chimaev's first career loss reshapes the middleweight landscape and his path back to title contention
• White's public scoring underscores how competitive the fight was, with the championship rounds proving decisive
• A 2-2 scoreline entering round five suggests judges were similarly divided, lending context to the split decision result