Strickland Reclaims Middleweight Title with Upset Over Chimaev at UFC 328

Strickland upsets Chimaev to reclaim middleweight crown.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated May 101 min read

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What happened: Sean Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) to win the main event of UFC 328 at the Prudential Center. After surviving a dominant first round of grappling from Chimaev, Strickland utilized his relentless jab and defensive boxing to outpoint the champion over the final 20 minutes.

Why it matters: The victory makes Sean Strickland a two-time UFC Middleweight Champion and hands Chimaev the first loss of his professional career. Entering as high as a underdog, Strickland now holds two of the largest upsets in middleweight title history.

By the numbers: Strickland out-landed Chimaev in significant strikes in four of the five rounds. Chimaev secured 9 of 13 takedown attempts but faded after the first round, accumulating only 2:04 of control time after the opening frame. Closing betting Chimaev, Strickland.

What to watch: Strickland begins his second title reign with a likely list of contenders including Dricus Du Plessis or a potential rematch with Chimaev.

Sources

@SportsCenter May 10, 6:26 AM ET

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Strickland Reclaims Middleweight Title with Upset Over Chimaev at UFC 328

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