Khamzat Chimaev's face shown after UFC 328 fight with Sean Strickland

Images circulating across social media in the days following UFC 328 on May 9, 2026 have shown the visible physical damage Khamzat Chimaev sustained during his middleweight bout with Sean Strickland, with multiple channels reposting similar photographs taken one to two days after the fight.

Strickland, known as "Tarzan," entered the contest as the reigning middleweight champion. The 35-year-old American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, carries a record of 31-7-0 and is one of the division's most relentless output fighters, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach at six-foot-one. His pressure-heavy, high-volume style has long made him a difficult opponent for anyone willing to stand and trade.

Chimaev, nicknamed "Borz," came in ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound with a record of 15-1-0. The 32-year-old fighting out of the United Arab Emirates and training with Allstars Training Center stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. While his striking accuracy sits at an impressive 60 percent, it is his grappling that defines his profile — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, among the highest rates in the division.

Why it matters

• The images suggest Strickland's output-heavy striking left a measurable mark on the top-ranked middleweight contender
• A matchup between the champion and the division's number-one ranked fighter carries obvious title implications
• The style contrast — Chimaev's elite grappling versus Strickland's volume striking — made for a compelling matchup on paper and, based on the visible aftermath, an equally compelling contest in practice