Sean Strickland made history by becoming only the second middleweight champion in UFC history to regain the title after losing it. The first fighter to accomplish this feat in the division was Israel Adesanya. Strickland reclaimed the belt by defeating Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328. This achievement places Strickland in rare company within the middleweight division's championship lineage.
Sean Strickland reclaimed the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026, defeating Khamzat Chimaev to write his name into the division's history books. In doing so, the American became only the second fighter in UFC middleweight history to regain the title after previously losing it.
Strickland, 35, now carries a 31-7 record and trains out of Xtreme Couture. The six-foot-one orthodox striker is one of the most active fighters in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with 42 percent accuracy. His pressure-heavy, volume-based approach proved enough to dethrone Chimaev and return the belt to his waist.
The first middleweight to accomplish the feat of regaining the title was Israel Adesanya. The 36-year-old Nigerian southpaw out of City Kickboxing holds a 24-6 record and currently sits at number eight in the divisional rankings. Adesanya, who stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, built his legacy on precise, technical striking, landing 4.03 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy across his career.
Why it matters
- Strickland joins Adesanya as the only middleweights in UFC history to reclaim the title after a loss
- The 31-7 record and active championship status cement Strickland among the division's all-time figures
- Adesanya, ranked eighth at 36 years old, remains a credible contender, setting up a potential trilogy narrative
Saturday, May 9, 2026
