Sean Strickland's victory over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 marks his second major upset after defeating Adesanya, defying expectations as many considered him past his prime. The fight revealed familiar patterns from Chimaev's bout with Usman: a dominant first round followed by cardio decline and increased reliance on striking. Judge Sue Sanidad, returning to UFC judging after not working an event since 2014, controversially scored the fifth round for Chimaev despite most observers seeing a clear 3-2 victory for Strickland. Chimaev is now expected to move up to light heavyweight, potentially facing Paulo Costa, while Strickland may defend against Nassourdine Imavov. The pre-fight animosity between the fighters seemed contradicted by their friendly interactions during the bout, including Chimaev reportedly saying "I Love You" to Strickland mid-fight.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
