Media scorecard shows 13 of 24 journalists scored Chimaev-Strickland for Chimaev

Thirteen of 24 media members scored Khamzat Chimaev's middleweight title fight against Sean Strickland in favor of Chimaev, according to a post-fight media scorecard tally released on May 10, with the remaining 11 journalists handing the bout to Strickland.

Chimaev, nicknamed "Borz," entered the contest ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth on the pound-for-pound list. The 32-year-old from the United Arab Emirates carries a 15-1-0 record and trains out of Allstars Training Center. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he is among the sport's most effective wrestlers, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, and his 60 percent striking accuracy ranks among the highest in the division.

Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, came in at 31-7-0. The 35-year-old American, known as "Tarzan," trains at Xtreme Couture and stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach. He is one of MMA's highest-volume strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute, though his accuracy sits at 42 percent. Strickland's wrestling offense is limited, averaging 0.71 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• A near-even media split signals the fight was genuinely close, raising questions about the official judges' scorecards.
• The result carries significant divisional weight, as Chimaev was the number-one ranked middleweight challenger entering the bout.
• Stylistically, Strickland's high-output striking was pitted against Chimaev's elite grappling, making round-by-round scoring difficult and subjective.
• No official breakdown of individual rounds was included in the scorecard release, leaving the full picture of how the fight unfolded unclear.