Sean Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev by split decision in what is being called another upset of the year, his second after previously defeating Israel Adesanya. Despite being heavily underestimated and considered a "passing champion" for several years, Strickland was expected to serve as an easy opponent for Chimaev in what was intended to be a major main event. The post notes that Chimaev showed nothing wrong in his performance, fighting hard and breaking Strickland's nose, but ultimately couldn't find decisive answers to Strickland's basic skill set. The fight drew comparisons to Chimaev's bout against Kamaru Usman, showing similar patterns of early wrestling dominance followed by cardio decline. One judge, Sue Sanidad (a BJJ instructor who hadn't worked a UFC event since 2014), controversially scored the fifth round for Chimaev, though the author views it as a clear 3-2 decision for Strickland.
Sean Strickland retained the middleweight championship with a split-decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev on May 10, 2026, producing what is already being described as his second major upset win inside the Octagon.
Strickland, 35, carries a 31-7-0 record and trains out of Xtreme Couture. The six-foot-one, 185-centimeter orthodox striker is one of the busiest fighters in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. For much of his recent title reign he was dismissed as a transitional champion — a label that now looks increasingly difficult to defend after back-to-back victories over elite opposition.
Chimaev, ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound at 32 years old, entered with a 15-1-0 record and was widely expected to overwhelm Strickland. The Allstars Training Center product is among the most dangerous grapplers in the sport, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing significant strikes at a 60 percent accuracy rate — the highest of the three fighters referenced in this fight's context. He pushed the pace, broke Strickland's nose, and showed sustained aggression throughout, but, similar to his earlier bout against Kamaru Usman, appeared to fade as the rounds accumulated, leaving decisive moments on the table in the championship rounds.
The scorecards drew immediate scrutiny. Judge Sue Sanidad, a BJJ instructor who had not worked a UFC event since 2014, awarded the fifth round to Chimaev — a score that conflicted with the majority view that Strickland controlled the closing frame. The consensus reading of the card is a 3-2 decision in Strickland's favor.
Why it matters
- Strickland now holds victories over Israel Adesanya and Khamzat Chimaev, the top names in the middleweight division
- Chimaev drops to 15-1-0 at middleweight, raising questions about his path back to title contention
- The judging controversy surrounding Sanidad's fifth-round scorecard is likely to prompt fresh scrutiny of UFC judge selection and credentialing
- The cardio patterns observed in both the Usman and Strickland fights represent a recurring question mark for Chimaev at championship distance
