Despite being heavily underestimated, Sean Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev via split decision, marking his second major upset after beating Israel Adesanya. The fight revealed familiar patterns from Chimaev's bout with Kamaru Usman: dominant first-round grappling followed by cardio decline and increased striking exchanges. One judge, Sue Sanidad—working her first UFC event since 2014—controversially scored the fifth round for Chimaev, though most observers saw a clear 3-2 victory for Strickland. The analysis notes Chimaev is ready to move to light heavyweight and suggests a rematch with Nassourdine Imavov makes sense for Strickland's next title defense. The piece criticizes the fighters for their pre-fight handshake and friendly demeanor after months of building genuine animosity, particularly Chimaev saying "I love you" while fading in later rounds.
