Post-UFC 328 analysis suggests Khamzat Chimaev may have been preparing for a light heavyweight debut before plans changed last minute, which could explain his poor cardio showing against Sean Strickland. Despite working with top-level sports scientists, Chimaev's conditioning lasted only one round, raising questions about his preparation. Meanwhile, Alexander Volkov benefited from another close decision going his way, with observers noting this is his second consecutive tight fight scored in his favor, seemingly as "cashback" for his controversial loss to Ciryl Gane. The Joshua Van versus Tatsuro Taira bout is being compared to the Moreno-Figueiredo rivalry for younger fans, with expectations they will eventually fight for the flyweight title. Strickland apologized for going too far during fight promotion, though the damage to Chimaev's aura remains, particularly given Chimaev's friendly demeanor during a fight where he underperformed.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
