Khamzat Chimaev, Sean Strickland's Next Best Fights After UFC 328 Results

Despite long odds, Sean Strickland used UFC 328 as the stage to reclaim the UFC middleweight title with a split decision win over Khamzat Chimaev in the main event.

Strickland is no stranger to upsetting a dominant champion. He originally captured the belt with a win over Israel Adesanya. Now, he's added Chimaev to the list of champions he has vexed with his awkward style.

The win also means the middleweight division just got more interesting. Chimaev was ruling the weight class, but his loss showed that he's human (at least to Strickland) and opens the door for a few contenders to emerge.

Here's a look at the next best options for Strickland as well as what could be next for Chimaev.

Strickland's Next Best Fights

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Nassourdine Imavov

Nassourdine Imavov

Dricus du Plessis

Caio Borralho

Sean Strickland is once again champion and it's very likely that his first defense will come against someone we've seen him against before. Just about every real possibility is a rematch of some kind.

Chimaev is not the kind of fighter you want to have to beat twice. In Strickland's ideal world, Chimaev's next fights will be taking place at 205 pounds.

Nassourdine Imavov should be No. 1 on Strickland's list. He already holds a win over the rising French striker. He won a January 2023 fight via decision and could have the advantage in a rematch.

The other option would be a third fight against Dricus du Plessis. Strickland was on the losing end of two decisions to Stillknocks in their previous bouts. A win to defend his title this time around would be tough but vindicating.

If the UFC wants to get a completely new matchup then Caio Borralho should be the target. The 33-year-old is coming off a statement win over Reinier de Ridder. It would be nice to see him stack up a few more wins before getting a crack at gold, but he's 8-1 since signing with the UFC.

Chimaev's Next Best Fights

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Sean Strickland

Dricus du Plessis

Nassourdine Imavov

Chimaev lost the belt on Saturday night, but he also lost the mystique that came with being undefeated. The only way for him to regain some of that is to beat Strickland cleanly.

That's why an immediate rematch is the next best match for him. He needs to prove that he can solve the Strickland puzzle if he wants to become the kind of star who can fight in multiple weight classes.

Of course, he could decide to go back to the lab, score another win and then challenge Strickland. Dricus du Plessis would be the best-case scenario for that route. Chimaev has already beaten him once and it would give him an opportunity to bounce back against a familiar foe.

The third option would be to prove himself against a rising contender in the division. Nassourdine Imavov is on a five-fight win streak and is garnering respect in the weight class.

A decisive win by Borz would once again show that he's the best challenger for the title.