Analysis following UFC 328 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-level sports science professionals. The post compares the Van versus Taira fight to Moreno versus Figueiredo for the newer generation, predicting future rematches. Alexander Volkov is noted as receiving favorable judging in his second consecutive close decision. Chimaev's friendly behavior toward Strickland during the fight, including smiling and embracing despite pre-fight animosity, is criticized given the eventual outcome. The observation questions why Chimaev's conditioning would be so poor if proper preparation had occurred.
A theory circulating in the aftermath of UFC 328 suggests Khamzat Chimaev may have been preparing to debut at light heavyweight before those plans were abandoned late, potentially explaining a conditioning performance that left observers with questions. The speculation is unconfirmed and should be treated as such.
The theory centers on Chimaev's cardio, which reportedly held up for only one round against middleweight champion Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9. Proponents argue that a camp structured around a higher weight class could account for the unusual fade, particularly given that Chimaev is known to work alongside high-level sports science professionals. Also drawing scrutiny was Chimaev's demeanor during the bout — smiling and embracing Strickland despite the bitter pre-fight rhetoric between the two — behavior that critics found difficult to reconcile with the eventual result.
Strickland, 35, defends the middleweight title carrying a 31-7-0 record. The American out of Xtreme Couture lands an aggressive 6.04 significant strikes per minute and holds a 76-inch reach at six-foot-one, making him a relentless volume fighter at 185 pounds.
Elsewhere on the UFC 328 card, heavyweight Alexander Volkov earned another close decision victory, his second consecutive win by that margin. The 37-year-old Russian, ranked first in the heavyweight division with a 40-11-0 record, stands six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach and connects at 57 percent striking accuracy, though post-fight discussion has questioned whether the judging in his favor was warranted.
The event also featured flyweight champion Joshua Van, whose performance drew comparisons to the early Moreno-Figueiredo rivalry. The 24-year-old from Myanmar carries a 17-2-0 record and lands an extraordinary 8.84 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy — numbers that suggest a future rematch in that division would carry similar long-term significance.
Why it matters
- The light heavyweight theory, if ever substantiated, would reframe how Chimaev's middleweight future is assessed
- Volkov's back-to-back close decisions keep his heavyweight title credentials in discussion but invite scrutiny of judging standards
- Van's emergence at flyweight adds a potentially generational rivalry to a division that has lacked one since Moreno and Figueiredo concluded their series
Saturday, May 9, 2026
