Analysis suggests Chimaev may have prepared for light heavyweight before late change

A post-event analysis of UFC 328 suggests Khamzat Chimaev may have been preparing for a light heavyweight debut before plans changed at the last moment. This theory, attributed to analyst Vlad Matveev, attempts to explain Chimaev's cardio issues, which limited him to one strong round. The analysis notes that Chimaev was working with top-level sports science experts, making the poor cardio outcome suspicious. The post also discusses how Chimaev's aura took damage after he repeatedly smiled, shook hands, and embraced Strickland during the fight despite the pre-fight animosity. Additionally, the analysis compares the Van versus Taira flyweight bout to the Moreno-Figueiredo rivalry and suggests Alexander Volkov is benefiting from favorable judging decisions.