Sean Strickland's upset victory over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 followed a similar pattern to Chimaev's fight against Kamaru Usman, with early wrestling dominance followed by cardio issues. Strickland employed his standard skill set throughout the fight, breaking Chimaev's nose and proving the favorite had no definitive answers. The scoring was relatively clear at 3-2 rounds for Strickland, though one judge Sue Sanidad controversially scored the fifth round for Chimaev. Chimaev is now planning to move up to light heavyweight, while Strickland's next logical opponent appears to be Nassourdine Imavov in a rematch. The pre-fight animosity between the fighters was undermined when they smiled and shook hands before the bout, with Chimaev even telling Strickland "I Love You" mid-fight.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
