A detailed analysis of Sean Strickland's victory over Khamzat Chimaev expresses unexpected satisfaction with the outcome, noting Strickland pulled off his second major upset in recent years after his win over Adesanya. The analyst scored the fight 3-2 for Strickland and was surprised by the split decision, noting judge Sue Sanidad (a BJJ instructor who hadn't worked UFC events since 2014) scored round five for Chimaev. The piece discusses how Chimaev fought well but showed similar patterns to his Usman fight, with cardio decline after a dominant first round. Looking ahead, the analysis suggests Chimaev will move to light heavyweight where a matchup with Paulo Costa awaits, while Strickland could face Nassourdine Imavov next. The analyst criticizes the pre-fight friendliness and Chimaev saying "I Love You" during the bout after months of building hatred, questioning why reconciliation couldn't wait until after the fight.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
