Sean Strickland's split decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 marked his second major upset in recent years, following his surprising win over Israel Adesanya. The analyst expressed satisfaction with Strickland's win, noting how the fighter had been dismissed and used as an opponent to build up Chimaev's star power. The fight showed Chimaev following a familiar pattern seen in his bout with Usman: dominant first-round grappling followed by cardio issues and a shift to striking. The scorecard was viewed as a clear 3-2 for Strickland, with surprise at the split decision and noting that judge Sue Sanidad, who scored it for Chimaev, had not worked a UFC event since 2014. The piece suggests Chimaev will move to light heavyweight to face Paulo Costa, while Strickland may defend against Nassourdine Imavov. The analyst questioned why the fighters showed respect before the bout after months of building hatred, particularly Chimaev saying "I love you" during the fight.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
