Sean Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev via split decision at UFC 328 to reclaim the middleweight championship in a major upset. The author notes this is Strickland's second massive upset after defeating Israel Adesanya, and that oddsmakers heavily favored Chimaev going into the fight. Despite expectations of Chimaev's dominance, Strickland used his standard striking approach effectively while Chimaev showed familiar cardio issues after a strong first round. The post questions the pre-fight handshake and friendly interactions between fighters who had spent months building hatred and exchanging insults. One judge, Sue Sanidad, controversially scored the fifth round for Chimaev, though the author believes Strickland clearly won 3-2. Chimaev is reportedly ready to move up to light heavyweight rather than pursue a rematch.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
