An analyst suggests Khamzat Chimaev may have been preparing for a light heavyweight debut before plans changed at the last moment, which could explain his cardio lasting only one round at UFC 328. The theory is based on the fact that Chimaev worked with top sports scientists, making the poor cardio result surprising. The analysis also compares the Van versus Taira fight to Moreno versus Figueiredo for younger fans, predicting future rematches. Regarding Volkov, the post notes he's received favorable judging in two close fights recently, suggesting karma for his robbery against Gane. Sean Strickland apologized for going too far in promoting the fight, but the damage to Chimaev's aura remains.
A post-event analysis circulating after UFC 328 has floated an unconfirmed theory that Khamzat Chimaev may have been deep into preparation for a light heavyweight debut before plans shifted at the last moment — a change that, if accurate, could help explain the cardio collapse that left him unable to sustain his usual output beyond the opening round.
The theory, which has not been officially confirmed by Chimaev's camp, leans on the fact that Chimaev is known to work alongside elite sports scientists, making a straightforward conditioning failure seem out of character. The suggestion is that a sudden weight-class pivot disrupted his preparation cycle in ways that only became apparent under fight-night pressure.
Sean Strickland, the 35-year-old American middleweight champion out of Xtreme Couture who carries a 31-7-0 record and one of the busiest striking outputs in the division at 6.04 significant strikes per minute, acknowledged going too far in his pre-fight promotional conduct and has since apologized. Analysts note, however, that whatever reputational damage was done to Chimaev's aura during the buildup was compounded by the performance itself.
Elsewhere in the post-event conversation, the flyweight title fight featuring 24-year-old champion Joshua Van of Myanmar drew comparisons to the Moreno-Figueiredo rivalry for a newer generation of fans. Van, who carries a 17-2-0 record and an eye-catching 56 percent striking accuracy while landing 8.84 significant strikes per minute, is seen as a figure capable of sustaining a similar multi-fight arc.
The analysis also touched on heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov, the 37-year-old Russian ranked first in his division with a 40-11-0 record. The piece suggested Volkov has benefited from favorable judging in two recent close decisions, framing it as a form of karmic balance following a widely criticized result against Ciryl Gane earlier in his career.
Why it matters
- The light heavyweight preparation theory, if substantiated, reframes the Chimaev cardio narrative from a conditioning failure to a logistical disruption
- Strickland's apology keeps middleweight storylines active despite the post-fight controversy
- Volkov's judging fortune has direct implications for the heavyweight rankings picture heading into future title contention bouts
Saturday, May 9, 2026
