Sean Strickland shared a photo of himself after his UFC 328 victory with the caption "Best job in the world." The image showed Strickland's physical condition following his split decision win over Khamzat Chimaev to regain the middleweight championship. The post reflects Strickland's satisfaction with reclaiming the title despite the grueling nature of the five-round contest.
Sean Strickland took to social media the day after UFC 328 to share a photo of himself in his post-fight condition, captioning the image "Best job in the world" — a pointed declaration of satisfaction after clawing back the middleweight championship with a split decision win over Khamzat Chimaev on May 9.
The image, raw and unfiltered, conveyed the physical toll of a grueling five-round title fight while doing nothing to dampen Strickland's spirits. The 35-year-old American made clear the pain was worth every second.
Strickland, nicknamed "Tarzan," now holds a 31-7-0 professional record and is once again the UFC middleweight champion. Fighting out of Xtreme Couture in an orthodox stance, the six-foot-one, 185-centimeter fighter carries a 76-inch reach and has built his reputation on relentless pressure and volume striking. He lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute — an elite rate in the division — while working behind a 42 percent striking accuracy mark that reflects just how busy he keeps his hands throughout a contest.
Why it matters
- Strickland's split decision victory over Chimaev in a championship rematch context signals a hard-fought, contested reign rather than a dominant one, raising questions about the division's next challenger
- At 35 with a 31-7 record, Strickland has now reclaimed middleweight gold, adding another chapter to one of the more polarizing title stories in recent divisional history
- His output-heavy, brawling style — averaging over six significant strikes landed per minute — made a five-round war with Chimaev a credible and punishing affair for both men
The social media post, bruises and all, serves as a fitting punctuation mark on what Strickland made clear was exactly the kind of night he signed up for.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
