Speculation emerges Chimaev was preparing for light heavyweight before Strickland bout

A detailed analysis of UFC 328 suggests Khamzat Chimaev may have been preparing for a light heavyweight debut before plans changed last minute, which could explain his cardio issues against Sean Strickland. The theory, proposed by analyst Vlad Matveev, questions why Chimaev's conditioning lasted only one round despite working with top-level sports science professionals. Strickland apologized for excessive trash talk during fight promotion, but the damage to Chimaev's aura remains, particularly after Chimaev appeared friendly and repeatedly embraced Strickland despite the disrespectful buildup. The analyst also noted that Van vs Taira represents a new generational rivalry similar to Moreno-Figueiredo, while Alexander Volkov continues to benefit from controversial decision wins.