Sean Strickland did the impossible. Twice.
For the second time in three years, Strickland waltzed into a UFC title fight as a massive underdog and waltzed out of the cage with the middleweight title around his waist. In 2023, Israel Adesanya was the dominant champion who Strickland toppled in a result few saw coming, and on Saturday night at UFC 328, it was Khamzat Chimaev’s turn to suffer the wrath of the division’s ultimate spoiler.
Using a mix of his relentless Philly Shell-esque striking and a masterful command of defensive wrestling, Strickland eked out a split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) to hand Chimaev the first defeat of the Chechen’s otherwise flawless MMA career.
Not surprisingly, given how competitive the back-and-forth affair was, Strickland’s fellow fighters were split on UFC 328’s result, with some singing Strickland’s praises and others casting doubt on the judges’ decision. Two of middleweight’s top contenders, Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho, also wasted little time calling for their first shots at the belt.
Check out reaction to Strickland vs. Chimaev below.
Man what a fight!! I think it’s gonna go 3-2 Strickland but could see either way
— Funky 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@Benaskren) May 10, 2026
This wolf is a 🐩 poodle . Give me him asap
— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) May 10, 2026
Just wonder what happened to Khamzat there in rd 2 just falling to his back like demian maia in there. Weight cut? Too much emotion?
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) May 10, 2026
3-2 STRICKLAND!!!
— Corey ‘Overtime’ Anderson (@CoreyA_MMA) May 10, 2026
Draw? #ufc328
— Boston Salmon (@bostonboomboom) May 10, 2026
whatever was decided, it was already before the match.
You can show the world anything, but you have to live this role to the fullest.
Big congrats to Sean, to show strength and handle this pressure.
On the other side, pure hate in pressconference and smile in the cage ?
No, we…— Jiri BJP Prochazka (@jiri_bjp) May 10, 2026
And new 🤯🤯🤯 congrats @SStricklandMMA
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) May 10, 2026
America! 🇺🇸 @SStricklandMMA
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) May 10, 2026
Thought they hated each other
— David Michaud (@bulldawg_170) May 10, 2026
Hahahaha pic.twitter.com/yMzkqP12gt
— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) May 10, 2026
Im next
— Caio Borralho (@BorralhoCaio) May 10, 2026
I’m gonna put your lights out @SStricklandMMA
— Imavov Nassourdine (@imavov1) May 10, 2026
Holy shit!!! Sean pulled it off. That was a coin flip fight, it came down to the wire and in the end, I believe it was Sean’s volume that won him the fight. There’s nothing controversial about the result, Sean earned it. #UFC328
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) May 10, 2026
Strickland still sucks
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) May 10, 2026
Weight cut must’ve been aweful
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) May 10, 2026
Wow that decision 🤷🏿♂️👊🏿
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) May 10, 2026
Strickland the king of the upsets 👏👏👏
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) May 10, 2026
Khamzat Chimaev you absolutely suck.
— Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) May 10, 2026