Sean Strickland defeated Hamzat Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328 in what's being called the upset of the year. The result was 3-2 in rounds favoring Strickland, though judge Sue Sanidad controversially scored the fifth round for Chimaev. Chimaev, who struggled with cardio after a dominant first round, is now planning to move up to light heavyweight rather than pursue a rematch. A potential fight with Paulo Costa awaits him at 205 pounds. For Strickland, a rematch with Nassourdine Imavov appears to be the logical next step for the middleweight title. Strickland now has six victories over fighters currently in the top 15.
Sean Strickland retained the middleweight championship with a split-decision victory over Hamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 on May 9, a result that is already being widely described as the upset of the year.
Strickland, 35, improved his professional record to 31-7-0 with the win, cementing his status as one of the most durable and unpredictable champions in the division's recent history. The American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture and stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, now holds six victories over fighters currently ranked inside the top 15 at middleweight. He lands an impressive 6.04 significant strikes per minute and carries the relentless output that defined his performance across the championship rounds. Judge Sue Sanidad's decision to award the fifth round to Chimaev drew immediate scrutiny, though the other judges saw enough of Strickland's work to hand him the verdict.
Chimaev had looked dominant in the opening round but faded visibly as the fight wore on, with cardio emerging as the decisive factor in the championship rounds. Rather than seek a rematch at 185 pounds, Chimaev is now reported to be planning a move up to light heavyweight, where a potential meeting with Paulo Costa at 205 pounds has been floated. Costa, who carries a 16-4-0 record and an elite striking accuracy of 58 percent, currently sits ranked 13th at middleweight and would represent a significant test at a new weight class.
With Chimaev stepping away from the division, attention turns to what comes next for Strickland and the middleweight title picture.
Why it matters
- Strickland's sixth top-15 win strengthens his case as the division's most legitimate champion
- Chimaev's potential move to light heavyweight reshapes the 185-pound landscape entirely
- Nassourdine Imavov, ranked first at middleweight with a 17-4-0 record, is positioned as the logical next challenger for Strickland's title
- Imavov's combination of volume striking and 1.0 submission attempts per 15 minutes creates a stylistically complex threat for the champion
Saturday, May 9, 2026
