A detailed analysis of UFC 328's main event argues Sean Strickland deserved a clear 3-2 victory despite split decision scorecards, with one judge controversially giving round five to Chimaev. The piece notes this is Strickland's second major upset in recent years after defeating Israel Adesanya. Chimaev showed nothing fundamentally wrong in his performance but couldn't overcome his cardio issues, similar to his fight against Kamaru Usman. The analysis suggests Chimaev will almost certainly move to light heavyweight with Paulo Costa as a logical first matchup. For Strickland, a rematch with Nassourdine Imavov is proposed as the most logical next title defense, with the post noting Strickland now has six wins over current top-15 middleweights.
Post-fight analysis circulating after UFC 328 concludes that Sean Strickland earned a definitive 3-2 decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev in Saturday's main event, though the scorecards were split and at least one judge controversially awarded the fifth round to Chimaev.
Strickland, 35, retains the middleweight championship and improves to 31-7-0. The American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and has built his championship run on relentless volume striking — landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy. The analysis frames this victory as his second major upset in recent years, the first being his stunning title win over Israel Adesanya. With this defense, Strickland now holds wins over six current top-15 middleweights, underlining how thoroughly he has reshaped the division.
On the Chimaev side, commentary notes the result mirrors his prior performance against Kamaru Usman, with cardio fading down the stretch proving decisive rather than any fundamental breakdown in his skillset. The analysis suggests Chimaev will almost certainly make a move to light heavyweight as a result, with Paulo Costa identified as a logical first opponent at 205 pounds. Costa, ranked 13th at middleweight and carrying a 16-4-0 record, averages 6.26 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 58 percent accuracy, making him an explosive stylistic test at any weight.
For Strickland, the same breakdown proposes a title defense against Nassourdine Imavov as the most sensible next booking.
Why it matters
- Strickland's second high-profile upset validates his identity as a legitimate elite champion rather than a one-time spoiler
- Chimaev's cardio concerns at middleweight, now appearing in multiple big fights, make a division jump a credible and logical path forward
- An Imavov title shot would continue Strickland's trend of defending against ranked contenders with legitimate claims
- Costa at light heavyweight represents a fresh and marketable matchup for Chimaev if the move materializes
Saturday, May 9, 2026
