A post-UFC 328 analysis suggests Khamzat Chimaev may have been preparing for a light heavyweight debut before plans changed at the last moment. The author questions how Chimaev, who worked with top-level sports science professionals, could have only one round of cardio if properly prepared for middleweight. The piece compares Joshua Van vs. Kai Asakura to the Moreno-Figueiredo rivalry for a younger generation, predicting future title fights between them. Alexander Volkov is noted as receiving favorable decisions in two consecutive close fights, described as "cashback" for his controversial loss to Ciryl Gane. The analysis criticizes damage to Chimaev's aura after he repeatedly showed friendliness toward Strickland during the fight despite the pre-fight animosity.
A post-UFC 328 analytical piece has raised the possibility that Khamzat Chimaev may have been preparing to compete at light heavyweight before plans shifted at the last moment, adding a new layer of scrutiny to his middleweight appearance at the event on May 9.
The analyst's central question centers on Chimaev's conditioning, arguing that a fighter who works alongside elite sports science professionals should not have displayed only one round of cardio if he was properly trained for middleweight competition. The implication is that a weight class move upward may have been in the works before something changed. The piece also takes aim at Chimaev's demeanor during the bout itself, suggesting his repeated displays of friendliness toward Sean Strickland — despite the bitter animosity between them heading into the fight — damaged the mystique he had built. Strickland, the 35-year-old American middleweight champion out of Xtreme Couture, carries a 31-7-0 record and is one of the division's highest-volume strikers, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute.
Elsewhere in the analysis, flyweight champion Joshua Van draws a flattering comparison. The 24-year-old from Myanmar holds a 17-2-0 record and produces an eye-catching 8.84 significant strikes landed per minute at 56 percent accuracy — numbers that underpin the analyst's belief that his rivalry with Kai Asakura could become a defining feud for a younger generation, much like Moreno versus Figueiredo was for theirs.
Alexander Volkov also features in the piece. The Russian heavyweight, ranked first in his division at 37 years old with a 40-11-0 record, is described as benefiting from favorable decisions in two straight close fights — framed as informal "cashback" for what the analyst viewed as a controversial loss to Ciryl Gane earlier in his career.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's potential light heavyweight interest, if substantiated, would reshape the 205-pound division's landscape
- The Van-Asakura rivalry framing elevates the stakes of future flyweight title matchups
- Volkov's back-to-back close decisions keep him positioned as the division's top contender at rank one
Saturday, May 9, 2026
