Post-fight analysis suggests Khamzat Chimaev may have originally been preparing for a light heavyweight debut before plans changed to face Sean Strickland at UFC 328. The theory, proposed by analyst Vlad Matveev, attempts to explain Chimaev's surprising cardio issues despite working with top-level sports science professionals. The post notes that Chimaev himself laid under Strickland as early as the second round and showed familiar patterns from his fight with Usman—dominant first-round wrestling followed by cardio decline. Additionally, the analysis compared Joshua Van versus Taira to "Moreno versus Figueiredo for zoomers," predicting they will eventually fight for the title. Alexander Volkov also received mention for benefiting from favorable judging in consecutive close decisions.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
