Chimaev's face shown after UFC 328 fight with Strickland

A photo circulating online offers a glimpse at the physical toll UFC 328 took on Khamzat Chimaev, showing visible facial damage the Swedish-Emirati fighter sustained during his middleweight clash with Sean Strickland on May 9, 2026. The image was shared without additional context regarding the severity of the damage.

Strickland, 35, entered the fight as the reigning middleweight champion, carrying a record of 31 wins and 7 losses. The American fighter out of Xtreme Couture stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and is one of the division's most prolific volume strikers, averaging 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute at 42 percent accuracy. That relentless output has long made him a dangerous opponent for anyone willing to stand and trade.

Chimaev, 30 — fighting out of Allstars Training Center — came in ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound with a record of 15 wins and just one loss. At six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, the 30-year-old is equally threatening on the feet and on the mat, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 60 percent striking accuracy. His combination of wrestling pressure and precise punching made him one of the most feared challengers in the weight class heading into the contest.

Why it matters

• The photo suggests Strickland's high-volume striking had a measurable impact on Chimaev across the fight.
• The result and its implications for the middleweight title picture remain the central storyline emerging from UFC 328.
• A matchup between two orthodox fighters with contrasting styles — Chimaev's grappling-heavy approach versus Strickland's relentless boxing — was always likely to produce significant wear on both men.