Sean Strickland's split decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 marked his second major upset in recent years after defeating Israel Adesanya. The fight followed a familiar pattern seen in Chimaev's bout with Kamaru Usman - early wrestling dominance followed by cardio decline and extended standup exchanges. Judge Sue Sanidad controversially scored the fifth round for Chimaev despite what many saw as clear 3-2 rounds for Strickland. Chimaev has indicated plans to move up to light heavyweight rather than pursue a rematch. With Chimaev's departure from middleweight, Nassourdine Imavov emerges as a logical next challenger for Strickland, who now holds six victories over current top-15 ranked middleweights. The pre-fight animosity between the fighters was undermined by handshakes and pleasantries before the bout, including Chimaev telling Strickland 'I Love You' mid-fight despite months of intense trash talk.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
