According to media scorecards compiled from 24 journalists, 13 scored the bout in favor of Khamzat Chimaev over Sean Strickland. This indicates the fight was viewed as extremely close by media members covering the event. The split decision reflects disagreement about which fighter won the contest. The actual judges' decision went to Strickland, making this a notable divergence between media and official scoring.
Of the 24 journalists who submitted scorecards for the middleweight title fight between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev, 13 scored the bout in favor of Chimaev while 11 sided with Strickland — a near-even split that underscores just how close the contest was perceived to be. The official judges, however, awarded the decision to Strickland, creating a notable gap between media and official scoring.
Strickland, 35, retains the middleweight championship with a professional record of 31-7-0. The American fighter out of Xtreme Couture carries a six-foot-one frame and a 76-inch reach, and his output-heavy style is reflected in a rate of 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute — one of the higher marks in the division.
Chimaev, 32, entered the bout ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound standings, carrying a record of 15-1-0. The UAE-based Allstars Training Center product stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. His 60 percent striking accuracy is among the sharpest in the sport, and he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a persistent threat in every phase of a fight.
Why it matters
- A 13-11 media split suggests the championship rounds or key sequences were genuinely contested, with no clear consensus on momentum.
- The divergence between media scorecards and the official judges' cards will likely fuel debate about how the bout was evaluated round by round.
- With Chimaev ranked first at middleweight, the result and its contested nature keep the division's title picture unsettled heading forward.
