Sean Strickland pulled off a stunning upset over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey, claiming the middleweight championship via split decision. The American survived a tough first round on the ground before mounting a gritty comeback. Two judges scored the bout 48-47 in his favor, while the third gave the same margin to Chimaev.
At 35, Strickland became a two-time UFC middleweight champion, handing Chimaev the first loss of his professional career after 16 consecutive wins.
Leading up to the fight, Strickland made a series of derogatory and racially charged remarks, but the two appeared to make peace afterward, with Chimaev wrapping the belt around Strickland’s waist as a sign of respect.
“I want to apologize to my American fans, Christian fans, and Muslim fans. I went too hard, I admit it,” Strickland said. “I respect all you guys. I should be a better example, but I try to sell these fights.”
The buildup was marred by a bitter verbal exchange. Strickland targeted Chimaev’s religion and heritage, while Chimaev responded with comments about Strickland’s past childhood trauma. The UFC increased security during fight week, with rows of officers separating the fighters as they entered the octagon. Despite the tension, they touched gloves before the bout.
Chimaev secured an early takedown, reminiscent of his title win over Dricus du Plessis in August, controlling the action on the ground. But Strickland improved his takedown defense in the second round, forcing Chimaev to strike—an area where Strickland excels. The American consistently used his jab while moving backward, edging the contest on the scorecards. Both fighters ended with bloodied faces, but Strickland kept denying takedowns in the final round and raised his arm at the final bell.
“He would not go back. I hit him with everything, but he keeps coming forward. Crazy,” Strickland said. “He may have broken my nose, but I love my fans. I wouldn’t be here today without you guys.”
The respect shown during and after the fight suggests the bitter rivalry may have been manufactured to build hype, raising questions about whether promoting fights with deeply personal and offensive comments crosses a line. UFC president Dana White called it a “top-three” heated rivalry of all time, reiterating that fighters would not be punished for offensive remarks because he supports free speech.
Strickland has a history of racist, homophobic, and misogynistic comments, and his position as champion puts his actions under a brighter spotlight, but disciplinary action from the UFC appears unlikely.
In the co-main event, Burmese-American flyweight Joshua Van stopped Japan’s Tatsuro Taira in the fifth round to retain his flyweight title. Taira, 26, had early success with takedowns, but Van took over midway through, finishing with a flurry of punches to the body and face. The victory marked Van’s first title defense and made history as the first title fight between two Asian men in UFC. After the win, Van called for a rematch against former champion Alexandre Pantoja, whom he defeated in December after Pantoja injured his arm in the first round.
