NEWARK — Sean Strickland weathered a five-round storm of world-class grappling to snatch back the UFC middleweight throne, handing the previously untouchable Khamzat Chimaev his first professional defeat.
At UFC 328 on Sunday morning, the American underdog turned a “razor-thin” split decision into a career-defining statement, proving that while Chimaev may be the boogeyman of the division, Strickland remains its most resilient survivor.
The lead-up to the Newark main event was defined by a characteristically volatile build-up from Strickland, who at one point threatened to shoot his opponent. When the cage door finally closed, the raucous home crowd’s chants of “USA!” were momentarily stifled.
Chimaev dominated the opening frame, successfully taking the American to the mat and exerting the relentless grappling pressure that has become his trademark.
However, the tide began to turn in the second round. Strickland found his rhythm, thwarting subsequent takedown attempts and spending a surprising portion of the round in top position. Despite suffering a suspected broken nose in the third, Strickland leaned on his superior boxing and a relentless jab to press his advantage as Chimaev’s pace appeared to falter.
The fourth round saw a shift in tactics from the challenger. Despite a clear wrestling pedigree, Chimaev opted to stand and trade blows for several minutes before finally securing a takedown in the closing seconds.
The pivotal fifth round was decided by Strickland’s movement and high-volume striking, which proved just enough to convince two of the three judges to award him the 48-47 scorecards.
In an emotional, expletive-laden victory speech, Strickland admitted he had “gone too far” during the pre-fight build-up and offered a rare moment of unity. He thanked his global fanbase, stating that he wouldn’t be where he is today without his supporters from all backgrounds.
The victory marks a triumphant return to the summit for Strickland, who lost the title to Dricus du Plessis in early 2025.
In the co-main event, Myanmar’s Joshua Van staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Tatsuro Taira and retain his flyweight title. Van survived a relentless grappling onslaught from the Japanese standout, nearly finishing the fight in the second round with a massive right hand.
The contest remained a high-speed chess match until one minute and 32 seconds into the final round, when Van unleashed an unanswered barrage of strikes to secure the TKO victory.
Sources: UFC, ESPN
