A detailed analysis argues that Sean Strickland's victory over Khamzat Chimaev was a clear 3-2 decision, with only one judge (Sue Sanad, working her first UFC event since 2014) scoring it for Chimaev. The piece notes this is Strickland's second major upset after defeating Israel Adesanya, and that he's now earned six victories over current top-15 ranked fighters. The analysis suggests Chimaev showed similar cardio problems as in his fight against Kamaru Usman, dominating the first round before fading. The author questions the pre-fight reconciliation between the fighters after months of building animosity. With Chimaev planning to move to light heavyweight, the analysis suggests Nassourdine Imavov versus Strickland makes sense as the next middleweight title fight, though it wouldn't be the most marketable matchup.
A detailed analytical breakdown of Sean Strickland's middleweight title defense against Khamzat Chimaev is making the rounds, and its conclusions paint a picture of a fight that was far closer to a dominant champion's performance than the controversy surrounding the judging might suggest.
The piece argues the bout was a clear 3-2 decision in favor of Strickland, with a single dissenting scorecard coming from judge Sue Sanad — reportedly working her first UFC event since 2014 — accounting for the only card that went to Chimaev.
Strickland, 35, now carries a 31-7 record and holds the middleweight championship representing the United States out of Xtreme Couture. The analysis notes this marks his second major upset victory, following his title-winning performance over Israel Adesanya, and that he has now accumulated six wins over fighters currently ranked inside the top 15. Fighting out of an orthodox stance at six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, Strickland lands an eye-catching 6.04 significant strikes per minute, a volume that tends to wear opponents down over championship rounds.
Chimaev, ranked number one in the division and tenth pound-for-pound at 32 years old, entered the fight as the consensus favorite. The Allstars Training Center product carries a 15-1 record and boasts a punishing 60 percent striking accuracy alongside 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. The analysis draws a direct comparison to his previous outing against Kamaru Usman, suggesting Chimaev again controlled the opening round before his conditioning visibly deteriorated in the championship rounds — a recurring concern that the piece frames as a meaningful pattern.
The analysis also raises an eyebrow at the pre-fight reconciliation between the two men after months of public animosity leading up to the bout.
Why it matters
- Strickland's win reinforces his standing as a legitimate champion, not a one-time upset winner
- Chimaev's reported cardio decline across multiple fights raises questions about his ceiling at championship pace
- With Chimaev eyeing a move to light heavyweight, the analysis floats Nassourdine Imavov as the logical next challenger for Strickland, though acknowledges it lacks marquee appeal
- The judging performance of Sue Sanad is likely to draw scrutiny from the broader MMA community
