A detailed analysis of Sean Strickland's split decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 notes that Strickland defied expectations for the second time, previously upsetting Israel Adesanya. The fight revealed familiar patterns from Chimaev's bout with Kamaru Usman: dominant first-round wrestling followed by cardio decline. The analyst scored it clearly 3-2 for Strickland and was surprised by the split decision. Chimaev is now planning to move up to light heavyweight where he'll face bigger opponents like Paulo Costa. For Strickland, a rematch with Nassourdine Imavov is seen as logical, with the American now holding six wins over current top-15 middleweights. The post questions why both fighters showed friendliness during the bout after months of heated buildup.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
