Dana White shared his scorecard for the main event, revealing he had it 2-2 going into the fifth round and believed Strickland won the final round. White was not surprised that Chimaev chose to keep the fight standing rather than wrestling. He recalled Chimaev discussing his striking skills during Fight Island and noted it had been a while since Chimaev fought primarily in the standup game. White mentioned that Chimaev had a difficult weight cut but praised his toughness, expecting him not to give up after a tough second round. White's comments provide insight into how he viewed the competitive title fight.
Dana White revealed his personal scorecard from the UFC 328 middleweight title main event, saying he had the fight deadlocked at two rounds apiece entering the fifth and final round, with Sean Strickland ultimately taking that last frame in his view.
Strickland, 35, retained the middleweight championship at UFC 328 and now holds a 31-7-0 record. The American fighter out of Xtreme Couture has built his reputation on relentless forward pressure, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach that allows him to control range from the outside. He came in as champion and, according to White's account, closed the fight strongly enough to secure the decision.
Challenger Khamzat Chimaev entered the bout ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, carrying a 15-1-0 record and representing the UAE's Allstars Training Center. The 32-year-old is widely regarded as one of the sport's elite grapplers, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, yet White noted he was not caught off guard by Chimaev choosing to engage on the feet. White recalled conversations with Chimaev dating back to Fight Island in which the fighter spoke confidently about his striking ability. White acknowledged it had been some time since Chimaev relied primarily on standup exchanges in a fight. Chimaev's striking accuracy sits at 60 percent, the highest of the two fighters, though his output of 4.04 significant strikes per minute is lower than Strickland's. White also disclosed that Chimaev endured a difficult weight cut but credited his toughness, saying he expected the fighter to push through adversity rather than fold after a rough second round.
Why it matters
- The 2-2 scorecard heading into round five underscores how genuinely close the title fight was by White's assessment
- Chimaev's decision to stand and trade rather than wrestle surprised many observers, though not White, and shapes the narrative around the rematch landscape at 185 pounds
- A tough weight cut adds a layer of scrutiny to Chimaev's preparation ahead of any future title challenge
Saturday, May 9, 2026
