Strickland stuns rival Chimaev for UFC's middleweight title Sean Strickland (31-7) reclaimed the UFC middleweight championship with a razor-close split decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev (17-1) at UFC 238 in Newark, N.J. The five-round contest, which ended in a 48-47 split decision for Strickland, marked his second title reign after he first won the belt in September 2023 by defeating Israel Adesanya. Chimaev, who had previously been undefeated, fell to 17-1 following the loss. Two of the three judges scored the fight in favor of Strickland, while the third split the decision in Chimaev’s favor. The result highlighted the intense rivalry between the two fighters, whose animosity had simmered since a 2022 incident at Strickland’s Las Vegas gym. The buildup to the fight was marred by personal attacks from Strickland, who called Chimaev a "coward" and a "dog" during promotional appearances. The tension escalated further when Chimaev kicked Strickland during a promotional stare-down on Thursday, prompting the UFC to bolster security measures. Police were stationed outside the venue, and the fighters were housed separately to prevent any incidents. Despite the hostility, both fighters displayed mutual respect after the bout, with Chimaev wrapping the championship belt around Strickland’s waist. Strickland’s victory was hard-earned, as the fight began with Chimaev dominating the early rounds. In the first 15 seconds, Chimaev took Strickland down and spent much of the first round on top, attempting rear-naked chokes. Strickland barely managed to survive the round, relying on defensive tactics to avoid submission. The momentum shifted dramatically in the second round when Chimaev’s energy waned, and his takedowns lost their explosive power.#israel_adesanya #khamzat_chimaev #sean_strickland #ufc_238 #newark_nj
UFC 328: Expert Predictions for Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland Khamzat Chimaev aims to defend his UFC middleweight championship for the first time when he faces former titleholder Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday. Chimaev, who secured the belt by defeating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 last August, remains undefeated in his professional MMA career and is ranked No. 5 in ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings. His past three victories have all come against former UFC champions, including Kamaru Usman, Robert Whittaker, and du Plessis. Strickland, ranked No. 4 in the middleweight division, enters the fight after a third-round TKO win over Anthony Hernandez in February. This will be his fourth middleweight title fight, following his 2023 victory over Israel Adesanya to claim the belt. However, Strickland has since lost his next two title bouts to du Plessis in 2024 and 2025. The matchup marks a rematch of sorts, as Strickland previously challenged du Plessis for the title. A panel of three former UFC fighters provided insights and predictions for the main event. Dustin Poirier expressed confidence in Chimaev’s ability to secure the win, noting that Strickland’s takedown defense, while decent, may not be sufficient to counter Chimaev’s aggressive style. Poirier highlighted Strickland’s footwork as a critical factor, suggesting that if Strickland fails to maintain a strong defensive stance, Chimaev’s pressure could overwhelm him. Poirier also emphasized Strickland’s reliance on front-foot jabs and teep kicks, which, while effective, may not be enough to halt Chimaev’s momentum.#prudential_center #newark_new_jersey #ufc_328 #khamzat_chimaev #sean_strickland
