Sean Strickland upset Khamzat Chimaev via split decision at UFC 328, winning his second fight as a major underdog after previously shocking Israel Adesanya. One judge, Sue Sanidad (a BJJ instructor who last worked UFC events in 2014), controversially scored the fifth round for Chimaev. The author scored it 3-2 for Strickland and was surprised it wasn't unanimous. Chimaev showed durability but faded after the first round, similar to his fight against Usman. Strickland broke Chimaev's nose and displayed his standard skill set. Post-fight, Chimaev indicated interest in moving to light heavyweight, potentially setting up a matchup with Paulo Costa. Strickland may defend against Nassourdine Imavov next, though his title reign is expected to be short.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
