Sean Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev via split decision (3-2 rounds) at UFC 328 in what the author calls the upset of the year. This marks Strickland's second major upset in recent years, having previously shocked Israel Adesanya. The author notes that Chimaev showed no quit, broke Strickland's nose, and at times looked better, but ultimately had no answer for Strickland's base skillset, similar to the Usman fight pattern. One judge, Sue Sanidad (a BJJ instructor who last judged UFC in 2014), controversially scored round five for Chimaev. Strickland now has six wins over current top-15 middleweights. Chimaev is expected to move up to light heavyweight, with Paulo Costa mentioned as a potential matchup. The author questions why the fighters showed friendliness before the bout after months of heated rivalry, including Chimaev saying 'I love you' during the fight.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
