Chimaev personally places championship belt on Strickland after UFC 328

In a moment that quickly circulated across social media, Khamzat Chimaev personally fastened the middleweight championship belt around Sean Strickland's waist following their clash at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026. Video captured by UFC Eurasia showed the gesture, which Chimaev offered, in his own words, "on respect."

Strickland, 35, retained his middleweight title and improved his professional record to 31-7-0 with the victory. The American fighter, known by his nickname "Tarzan" and based out of Xtreme Couture, stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and has built his championship run on relentless output, averaging 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute across his career.

Chimaev, 32, entered the contest as the division's top-ranked contender and the number ten pound-for-pound fighter in the world, carrying a record of 15-1-0 under the banner of Allstars Training Center. The UAE-based Chechen fighter brought an elite grappling threat to the matchup, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing 60 percent of his significant strikes — the highest accuracy figure in the division among elite contenders.

Why it matters

• Strickland successfully defended against the middleweight division's most dangerous challenger, reinforcing the legitimacy of his title reign.
• Chimaev's first professional loss reshapes the middleweight rankings picture and raises questions about where the number one contender spot goes next.
• The public display of mutual respect from two fighters known for combative pre-fight personas made the post-fight moment notable beyond the result itself.