Sean Strickland's victory over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 represented his second major upset after previously defeating Israel Adesanya. The fight was scored 3-2 by rounds in Strickland's favor, though one judge controversially scored the fifth round for Chimaev. Chimaev showed familiar patterns from his fight with Kamaru Usman: a dominant first round followed by cardio issues and inability to maintain wrestling dominance in later rounds. Despite expectations of domination, Chimaev had no ultimate answers to Strickland's basic skillset. Following the loss, Chimaev appears ready to move up to light heavyweight, with a potential matchup against Paulo Costa mentioned. For Strickland, a logical next defense would be a rematch with Nassourdine Imavov, given that Strickland now has six wins over current top-15 middleweights.
Sean Strickland pulled off the second major upset of his career at UFC 328 on May 9, defeating Khamzat Chimaev by split decision — scored three rounds to two in Strickland's favor — to retain the middleweight championship.
Strickland, 35, now holds a 31-7 record and has cemented himself as one of the division's most resilient champions. The American southpaw out of Xtreme Couture stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and lands an impressive 6.04 significant strikes per minute. This win mirrors his earlier title-winning upset over Israel Adesanya, and he now boasts six victories over current top-15 middleweights, a remarkable run of championship-level consistency.
Chimaev's performance drew immediate comparisons to his bout with Kamaru Usman — an overpowering first round followed by a visible decline in cardio and wrestling output as the fight progressed. Despite expectations that he would dominate Strickland, Chimaev found no answers to the champion's straightforward but effective skill set. One judge controversially awarded the fifth round to Chimaev, though it was not enough to sway the overall outcome.
Why it matters
- Strickland's win reinforces that Chimaev's cardio and late-round wrestling fade remain exploitable against elite opposition
- A rematch with Nassourdine Imavov has emerged as the logical next title defense for Strickland, given his accumulated wins over the division's top-15
- Chimaev is reportedly weighing a move up to light heavyweight, with Paulo Costa — who holds a 16-4 record and lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy — mentioned as a potential opponent at the new weight class
- The result raises further questions about Chimaev's ceiling at middleweight against championship-caliber grapplers and boxers who can survive his early pressure
Saturday, May 9, 2026
