Arman Tsarukyan released a statement following Khamzat Chimaev's split decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328. Tsarukyan wrote that Chimaev fought hard and that those who watched know what really happened. He encouraged Chimaev to keep his head up and stated that the champion will reclaim his belt soon. The post appears to show solidarity with Chimaev after the controversial defeat. Details about Tsarukyan's specific perspective on the judging are limited in the message.
Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan took to social media on May 10 to publicly back Khamzat Chimaev following Chimaev's split decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 the previous evening.
In his statement, Tsarukyan acknowledged that Chimaev fought hard and suggested that those who watched the fight closely understood what truly transpired. He urged Chimaev to stay positive and expressed confidence that the middleweight would reclaim championship gold in the future. The post stopped short of directly attacking the judges or outlining specific grievances with the scoring.
Chimaev, 32, entered the contest ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth on the pound-for-pound list, carrying a 15-1 record representing the United Arab Emirates out of Allstars Training Center. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, "Borz" is one of the most complete wrestlers in the sport, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and connecting on 60 percent of his significant strikes.
Strickland, now 31-7, retained the middleweight title with the split decision victory. The 35-year-old American, training out of Xtreme Couture, is one of the highest-volume strikers in the division, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute across his career with a six-foot-one frame and a 76-inch reach.
Tsarukyan himself holds a 23-3 record and sits atop the lightweight rankings at 29 years old. The Russian southpaw out of American Top Team averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes and connects at a 50 percent striking accuracy rate, making him a well-rounded threat in his own right.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's first professional loss opens questions about the middleweight title picture and his path back to contention
- The result keeps Strickland entrenched as champion with one of the division's most dangerous challengers now needing to rebuild
- Tsarukyan's public support signals the close ties between fighters from overlapping training networks and adds visibility to the controversy surrounding the judging
Saturday, May 9, 2026
