Strickland pulls off second major upset, defeats Chimaev by split decision

Sean Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev in a closely contested fight that ended via split decision, with most observers scoring it 3-2 in Strickland's favor. Despite being heavily underestimated and brought in as an opponent for Chimaev, Strickland delivered his second major upset in recent years, having previously shocked Israel Adesanya. Chimaev fought hard, breaking Strickland's nose and showing moments of success, but appeared to fade as the fight progressed, similar to his previous five-round battle with Kamaru Usman. The fight saw Chimaev dominate the first round with wrestling before experiencing cardio issues. Judge Sue Sanidad, making her first UFC appearance since 2014, controversially scored the fifth round for Chimaev in the split decision. Following the loss, Chimaev indicated his intention to move up to light heavyweight rather than pursue a rematch.