Sean Strickland successfully defended his UFC middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328, winning by split decision 3-2 on the scorecards. Strickland, who was heavily underestimated going into the fight, produced his second major upset in recent years after previously defeating Israel Adesanya. Chimaev showed resilience throughout the five-round bout, breaking Strickland's nose and attempting multiple takedowns, but ultimately couldn't overcome Strickland's consistent striking output. The analysis notes that Chimaev has indicated plans to move up to light heavyweight (93kg) rather than pursue a rematch. A potential next title defense for Strickland could be a rematch with Nassourdine Imavov, who has six wins over current top-15 ranked middleweights.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
