What happened: Sean Strickland reclaimed the UFC Middleweight Championship by defeating Khamzat Chimaev via split decision (48–47, 47–48, 48–47) in the main event of UFC 328. Despite an early wrestling onslaught from Chimaev, Strickland utilized superior striking volume and cardio to take over the championship rounds and hand 'Borz' his first professional defeat.
Why it matters: The victory cements Strickland's legacy as one of the sport's greatest spoilers, marking his second title win as a massive underdog or higher). By halting Chimaev’s undefeated run, Strickland resets the middleweight division and positions himself for a potential trilogy bout with Dricus Du Plessis or a defense against the rising Joshua Van.
By the numbers: Strickland entered as a underdog vs. Total strikes favored Strickland 114-68, though Chimaev recorded 4 takedowns and over 7 minutes of control time. The 'fight to go the distance'. Strickland is now the only fighter since 2008 with multiple title wins as a 3-1 underdog or longer.
What to watch: Expect the UFC to target a late 2026 title defense for Strickland, likely against the winner of a title eliminator or a rematch with former champion Dricus Du Plessis.