What happened: On Ariel Helwani's City Winery show, Dustin Poirier shared scouting intel he has gathered from inside Sean Strickland's training camp ahead of UFC 328. According to Poirier, wrestlers working with Strickland have told him the middleweight contender is difficult to hold down on the mat. Poirier framed the matchup as compelling if Khamzat Chimaev cannot finish early and the fight reaches the championship rounds.

Why it matters: Chimaev's path to victory has long been read as grappling-led, with many expecting an early submission similar to recent dominant performances. If Strickland's takedown defense holds and he repeatedly returns to his feet, the fight begins to resemble pace-and-pressure matchups where Chimaev has historically faded late. Poirier's comments echo earlier analysis from Helwani and Luke Rockhold suggesting Strickland's durability and cardio give him a live puncher's chance over 25 minutes.

What to watch: UFC 328 main event goes live tonight, May 9, on Paramount+ with Chimaev defending at 185 pounds. Watch for Strickland's takedown defense in rounds one and two and whether the fight crosses into championship rounds.