Tsarukyan predicted first-round submission win for Chimaev before UFC 328

During a live broadcast hosted by Dana White ahead of UFC 328 on May 9, Arman Tsarukyan made a confident but ultimately wrong prediction, calling for Hamzat Chimaev to submit Sean Strickland inside the first round. Strickland instead walked away with a split decision victory across five rounds, keeping his middleweight title intact.

Tsarukyan, the number-one ranked lightweight contender, carries a 23-3-0 record and fights out of American Top Team. The 29-year-old Russian is one of the most active grapplers in his division, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes, which likely informed his belief that Chimaev's wrestling and finishing ability would overwhelm Strickland early. His striking accuracy of 50 percent also marks him as one of the sharper fighters in the lightweight picture.

Strickland, fighting out of Xtreme Couture, is 35 years old and holds a 31-7-0 record. The six-foot-one American champion, who carries a 76-inch reach, is known for his output-heavy style, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. His submission defense was put to the test against Chimaev's well-documented grappling threat, and he survived to claim the judges' nod.

Why it matters

• Strickland's split decision win reinforces his middleweight championship reign despite widespread confidence in Chimaev's finishing ability
• Tsarukyan's public prediction drew attention to Chimaev's grappling credentials while highlighting the unpredictability of high-level MMA
• The result leaves the middleweight title picture unsettled heading into whatever comes next for both Strickland and Chimaev