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

An image circulating after UFC 328 on May 9 offered a stark look at the physical cost Khamzat Chimaev absorbed during his middleweight title fight against Sean Strickland. The photo, shared in the aftermath of the bout, showed Chimaev's face following the championship clash but included no specific detail about the nature or extent of any injuries sustained.

Chimaev, known as "Borz," entered the fight as the division's top-ranked contender and the number-ten pound-for-pound fighter in the world. The 32-year-old representing the UAE carried a 15-1-0 record into UFC 328, backed by a 60 percent striking accuracy and a remarkable 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — figures that made him one of the most complete and feared challengers in the 185-pound weight class. Trained out of Allstars Training Center, the six-foot-two wrestler with a 75-inch reach had long been considered the division's most dangerous contender.

Standing opposite him was reigning middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who defended his title at 31-7-0. The 35-year-old American, nicknamed "Tarzan" and training out of Xtreme Couture, is among the sport's highest-volume strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. The six-foot-one orthodox fighter, sporting a 76-inch reach, built his championship around pressure, output, and durability.

Why it matters

• The post-fight imagery underscores the physical demands of a middleweight title fight between two elite competitors
• Chimaev's appearance following the bout highlights the striking exchanges involved, notable given his usual reliance on grappling
• As the division's top contender meeting its reigning champion, the bout carried significant implications for the 185-pound title picture