What happened
Sean Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev by split decision in the UFC 328 main event on May 9 in Newark to become the new UFC middleweight champion. Two judges scored the fight 48-47 for Strickland and one scored it 48-47 for Chimaev. The loss was the first of Chimaev's pro MMA career.
Why it matters
The result reshapes the middleweight picture immediately, with Sean Strickland back on top as a two-time champion. It also landed as a betting upset, since Chimaev entered fight week as a sizable favorite and the bout still ended close enough to keep rematch talk alive.
The data edge
Official result: Strickland def. Chimaev, split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47). Event: UFC 328, May 9, 2026, Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey. Odds context: UFC.com listed Chimaev at -575 and Strickland at +425 on the event page; MMAOddsBreaker posted opening odds of Chimaev -325 and Strickland +260.
What to watch
Watch for the UFC's next middleweight title decision after a razor-close main event. The key follow-up is whether Strickland gets a new challenger or Chimaev is pushed into an immediate rematch.