Sean Strickland secured his second upset victory in recent years, having previously defeated Israel Adesanya and now Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328. Despite being heavily doubted and considered a "transitional champion," Strickland delivered a performance that generated divided opinions on the outcome. Most observers scored the fight 3-2 in Strickland's favor, though one judge, Sue Saidad, scored the fifth round for Chimaev resulting in a split decision. Saidad, a BJJ instructor, had not judged a UFC event since 2014. The analyst noted that Chimaev showed cardio issues similar to his fight with Kamaru Usman, dominating the first round before fading. Chimaev is now expected to move up to light heavyweight, potentially facing Paulo Costa. For Strickland, a rematch with Nassourdine Imavov is considered the logical next step, as Strickland now holds six wins over current top-15 middleweights.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
