Analyst suggests Chimaev may have prepared for 205-pound debut before late change

Post-event analysis suggests Khamzat Chimaev may have been preparing for a light heavyweight debut before plans changed last minute. The theory from analyst Vlad Matveev questions why Chimaev, working with top-level sports scientists, would have cardio lasting only one round. Strickland apologized for going too far in promoting the fight, but damage to Chimaev's aura remains after he showed friendliness despite the trash talk. The analyst compares Van versus Taira to Moreno versus Figueiredo for a younger generation and expects a future title rematch. Alexander Volkov received favorable judging for the second consecutive close fight, described as "cashback" for his controversial loss to Ciryl Gane.