Dana White shared his scorecard, revealing he had the fight scored 2-2 heading into the fifth round, which he believes Sean Strickland won. When asked if he was surprised Khamzat Chimaev didn't wrestle more, White said no, recalling that Chimaev talked about his striking during Fight Island days. White noted he had recently commented that Chimaev hadn't fought much in striking exchanges lately. White mentioned Chimaev had a tough weight cut but praised him as a tough fighter and "beast" who he expected wouldn't quit after the difficult second round. This assessment provides insight into White's perspective on the tactical approach and performance at UFC 328.
Dana White has broken down his personal scorecard from the Sean Strickland versus Khamzat Chimaev middleweight title fight at UFC 328, revealing he had the bout level at two rounds apiece before the championship stanza decided the contest.
Speaking to media following the event on May 9, the UFC president said he scored the fifth and final round in favor of Strickland, giving the reigning champion the nod on his personal card. White also addressed questions about Chimaev's tactical approach, saying he was not surprised the challenger chose to engage primarily on the feet rather than leaning on his elite wrestling.
Sean Strickland, 35, enters the record books at 31-7-0 and has held the middleweight title while operating out of Xtreme Couture. The American stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and is one of the division's most active strikers, averaging 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute at 42 percent accuracy.
Khamzat Chimaev, 32, came in as the number-one-ranked middleweight and sits tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings with a 15-1-0 record. The UAE-based Swede stands six-foot-two and carries a 75-inch reach. While his grappling credentials are well established — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — White recalled that Chimaev had openly spoken about his striking ambitions dating back to his Fight Island appearances, making the stand-up approach consistent with what the promotion had heard from him for years.
White noted he had recently flagged publicly that Chimaev had not been involved in many extended striking exchanges of late. He acknowledged Chimaev dealt with a difficult weight cut coming into the fight but described him as a tough fighter and a "beast," adding he never expected the challenger to quit after a punishing second round.
Why it matters
- Strickland retains the middleweight title if White's fifth-round read reflects the official result, reinforcing his status at 185 pounds.
- Chimaev's decision to stand and trade rather than wrestle will fuel debate about whether his grappling-heavy identity is evolving.
- At 15-1-0, Chimaev's lone defeat shapes the trajectory of one of the division's most anticipated careers.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
