Khamzat Chimaev suffers first loss, drops from undefeated rankings

Khamzat Chimaev's perfect professional record came to an end on May 9, 2026, as Sean Strickland defeated him by split decision at UFC 328, dropping "Borz" to 15-1 and erasing his name from the list of active undefeated fighters with more than ten wins in major promotions.

Chimaev, 32, had entered the fight ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings, carrying one of the most feared résumés in recent MMA history. The UAE-based Allstars Training Center product stood six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and brought elite wrestling to the cage, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 60 percent. That combination of physical tools and finish rate had kept his record spotless across 15 professional bouts — until Friday night.

Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, extended his record to 31-7 with the victory. The 35-year-old Xtreme Couture product is six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and has built his championship reign on relentless output, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy. His pressure-heavy, high-volume Orthodox style proved durable enough to earn two of the three judges' scorecards against one of the division's most dangerous challengers.

Why it matters

• Chimaev's exit from the undefeated rankings leaves Movlid Khaybulaev (24-0-1-1NC), Usman Nurmagomedov (21-0-1NC), and Movsar Evloev (20-0) as the most prominent fighters still without a professional loss across major organizations including UFC, Bellator, PFL, and ACA.
• The split-decision margin keeps Chimaev's divisional standing at rank one in question, with the result certain to reshape the middleweight title picture.
• Strickland's win adds another high-profile name to a championship résumé that now includes a victory over the most hyped undefeated prospect in the sport.