Strickland's upset victory over Chimaev defies expectations despite criticism

Sean Strickland's split decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev represents his second major upset after previously defeating Israel Adesanya. The writer views the result as clean 3-2 rounds for Strickland, expressing surprise at the split decision, with judge Sue Sanidad controversially scoring round five for Chimaev despite not judging UFC events since 2014. Chimaev showed heart and broke Strickland's nose but failed to deliver the dominant performance many expected, experiencing cardio issues similar to his Kamaru Usman fight. The analysis suggests Chimaev will likely move to light heavyweight to face Paulo Costa, while Strickland may face Nassourdine Imavov next. The writer questions why both fighters showed friendliness before the bout after months of hostile promotion, including Chimaev saying "I love you" during the fight.