Sean Strickland Beats Khamzat Chimaev By Split Decision at UFC 328 to Win Middleweight Title

Sean Strickland is once again the UFC middleweight champion after picking up a surprising split decision win over Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 328 main event.

Chimaev was the aggressor at the opening bell. Immediately pressing Strickland to the cage and scoring the takedown.

He ended up working from Strickland's back for most of the round as Tarzan was left to play defense. 

The second round afforded Strickland the opportunity to put up some offense. He stuffed a Chimaev takedown and wound up in top position. He forced Chimaev to fight from his back for the first time in his UFC career, landing ground and pound throughout the frame. 

Round 3 leaned much more heavily into the boxing game for both fighters. Chimaev looked more fresh, but also didn't try to grapple. Instead, he traded jabs with Strickland and held his own in a competitive round. 

That success led to more striking from Chimaev in the fourth. He and Strickland went back and forth but Borz went back to his wrestling in the final minute to score another takedown and wear out Strickland going into the final round. 

Chimaev once again mixed up his wrestling and striking to control the round, with Strickland fighting behind an effective jab. But it was enough for Chimaev to hold on to his belt.

Strickland reclaims the belt that he won in 2023 with a shocking upset of Israel Adesanya and lost to Dricus du Plessis in 2024. The 35-year-old has only fought four times since that loss, with another loss to Du Plessis in his second crack at the title.

The losses to DDP didn't deter him from believing he was uniquely positioned to upset the dominant Chimaev, though.

"I just think he's a weak man," Strickland told UFC.com's E. Spencer Kyte. "Everybody he fights crumbles, but I don't crumble. I don't break. You'll see."

Strickland's relentless and awkward style has given fighters fits before. As it turns out, that style was one of the few things that could disrupt Chimaev's dominance.

The victory leaves the middleweight division in a more solidified place. While Chimaev would have likely moved up to the light heavyweight division, Strickland is more likely to stick around and try to build his ownt title reign.

A trilogy bout with Du Plessis could be on deck. He's 0-2 against Stillknocks with the South African beating him by decision twice.

With Strickland back at the top of the division, it wouldn't be surprising to see him get the first crack at the new champion if Chimaev doesn't get an immediate rematch.