A post-fight analysis suggests Khamzat Chimaev may have originally been preparing for a light heavyweight debut before plans changed and he faced Sean Strickland at middleweight instead. The theory, attributed to analyst Vlad Matveev, attempts to explain Chimaev's surprising cardio issues despite working with top-level sports science staff. The post expresses disbelief that elite preparation would result in conditioning lasting only one round unless the training camp was designed for a different weight class. The analysis also compares the Van versus Taira flyweight bout to the Moreno-Figueiredo rivalry for a younger generation. Additionally, it notes that Alexander Volkov continues to benefit from controversial decisions, receiving favorable scorecards in two consecutive close fights.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
