Post-fight analysis suggests Khamzat Chimaev may have been preparing for a light heavyweight debut before plans changed last minute. The theory attempts to explain Chimaev's cardio lasting only one round despite working with top sports science specialists. Sean Strickland apologized for going overboard in promoting the fight, but the damage to Chimaev's aura remains, especially given his friendly demeanor during the fight despite the pre-fight trash talk. The Van versus Taira fight is compared to the Moreno-Figueiredo rivalry for the younger generation, with expectations they'll fight again for the title. Alexander Volkov is noted as receiving favorable judging in two consecutive close fights following his controversial loss to Ciryl Gane.
