Sean Strickland delivered his second major upset victory by defeating Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328, despite being heavily underestimated going into the fight. The analyst notes this mirrors Strickland's previous upset against Israel Adesanya, with both victories coming when he was written off by most observers. Strickland displayed his standard skill set throughout the fight, while Chimaev showed similar cardio issues as seen in his bout against Kamaru Usman. The decision was scored 3-2 for Strickland in what the analyst considers a clear result, though one judge scored the fifth round for Chimaev. Following the loss, Chimaev is expected to move up to light heavyweight, potentially facing Paulo Costa. For Strickland, a rematch with Nassourdine Imavov is suggested as a logical next step, with Strickland now holding six victories over current top-15 ranked opponents.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
