The author expresses unexpected satisfaction with Strickland's victory, noting he was underestimated for years and delivered his second major upset after defeating Adesanya. Despite expectations, Chimaev showed similar cardio issues as seen in his fight against Usman—dominant first round followed by fatigue and reduced effectiveness. Strickland won clearly 3-2 on rounds using his standard skillset without introducing anything new. The author questions why the fighters showed camaraderie before the fight after months of building animosity, particularly Chimaev saying 'I Love You' mid-fight. With Chimaev likely moving to light heavyweight, a rematch between Strickland and Imavov appears logical, with Strickland now holding six wins over current top-15 opponents. One judge, Sue Sanidad, scored the fifth round for Chimaev in her first UFC work since 2014.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
