Sean Strickland defeated Hamzat Chimaev by split decision with scores of 47-48, 48-47, and 48-47 to become the new UFC middleweight champion. The post notes a mysterious moment in the second round when Chimaev suddenly fell to his back mid-round, though he did not appear injured afterward. Chimaev controlled 4 minutes and 44 seconds in the first round before the puzzling second-round sequence. In the third round, Chimaev appeared to conserve energy and avoided grappling exchanges entirely. The author suggests Chimaev's conditioning was not as strong as in his fight against Dricus Du Plessis, possibly due to weight cut issues.
Sean Strickland reclaimed the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 328 on May 9, defeating Hamzat Chimaev by split decision with scores of 47-48, 48-47, and 48-47.
Strickland, 35, now holds a 31-7-0 professional record and is a two-time middleweight champion fighting 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 per minute. His output and durability proved central to a fight that grew increasingly chaotic as the rounds progressed.
The bout contained a notable moment of confusion in the second round when Chimaev suddenly dropped to his back without any apparent strike or takedown forcing him there. He did not appear injured following the sequence, but the episode raised immediate questions. Chimaev had controlled four minutes and 44 seconds of the first round through his grappling-heavy approach, but by the third round he was visibly conserving energy and avoided engaging in the clinch or on the mat altogether. The conditioning concerns are notable given that Chimaev's effort here appeared to fall short of his performance against former champion Dricus Du Plessis, with weight-cut difficulties cited as a possible factor.
Du Plessis, ranked second in the middleweight division and seventh pound-for-pound, holds a 23-3-0 record and now finds himself on the outside of the title picture looking in at a familiar opponent. The South African had previously lost the belt to Strickland and will likely factor heavily into what comes next at 185 pounds.
Why it matters
- Strickland's victory reshapes the middleweight title picture for a second time, reinforcing his status as one of the division's most durable and consistent performers
- Questions surrounding Chimaev's conditioning and the unexplained second-round incident will dominate post-fight discussion and could affect his path back to contention
- Du Plessis, ranked second, remains the most logical top contender following the result
Saturday, May 9, 2026
