A detailed analysis of UFC 328 suggests Khamzat Chimaev may have originally prepared for a light heavyweight debut before plans changed last minute. The theory, attributed to Vlad Matveev, points to Chimaev's cardio lasting only one round despite working with top-level sports scientists. Sean Strickland apologized for his pre-fight trash talk, but the damage to Chimaev's aura remains, particularly since Chimaev showed unusual friendliness while being dominated in the fight. The analysis also covers other fights, comparing Van and Taira to Moreno-Figueiredo for a younger generation and noting Alexander Volkov benefiting from close decisions. The post suggests Chimaev's conditioning issues may indicate last-minute fight changes rather than poor preparation.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
