Analysis of UFC 328 suggests Khamzat Chimaev may have been preparing for a light heavyweight debut before plans changed last minute. Analyst Vlad Matveev theorizes this could explain Chimaev's poor cardio despite working with top-level sports science professionals. The piece compares Joshua Vann versus Kai Asakura to the Moreno-Figueiredo rivalry for a younger generation, predicting future rematches. Alexander Volkov received what the analyst calls "cashback" for his controversial loss to Ciryl Gane, with two consecutive close decisions going his way. Chimaev apologized for going too far in promoting the Strickland fight, but this came after his "aura" had already been damaged by the performance and his overly friendly demeanor toward an opponent who had insulted him for months.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
