Fans of the UFC all around the world are shocked after this weekend, with one of the most surprising decisions of the year at UFC 328. Sean Strickland has taken the middleweight champion title from previously undefeated Khamzat Chimaev after five intense rounds, and people can’t stop talking about it.
UFC 328 took place on May 9, 2026, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and featured one of the most shocking results no one could have predicted. Coming into the fight, Chimaev was expected to dominate his opponent just as he had throughout his career and what had won him his championship belt. And there were a few close moments early on where it seemed like Sean would be finished off in just round one, but the pressure was handled extremely well, and he proved that he was prepared for the intense wrestling. While Chimaev was using his aggressive takedowns and wrestling to control the early rounds. Strickland managed to keep him at bay with his signature jabs and powerful defense. In all of Khamzat’s previous fights, he dominated the entire time, keeping opponents right where he wanted them, but he was forced to adapt when Sean proved this would not be the case in this fight. Sean adjusted accordingly, and Chimaev seemed to slow down and look tired towards the middle rounds.
In the end, after five competitive rounds, the judges awarded Sean Strickland the victory with an incredibly close score. This win allowed Sean to take the Middleweight championship belt home and left Khamzat with his first professional loss. The results immediately sparked debates around the world, with many on Chimaev’s side saying the early control won him the fight, while others argue that Strickland handled the pressure extremely well with his impressive striking and takedown defense and deserved the win in the end. The scoring was extremely close among all judges, especially in the third round, which many consider the deciding factor.
Before the card even took place, there was a very heated rivalry between the two fighters, which is a large reason for the split fan base and mixed opinions. Between intense press conferences and interactions during fight week, fans were beyond amped to see the results, adding even more excitement to the main event. But the excitement did not stop after it was all over. The extremely close fight left people anxious to see what happens next for these fighters and how both teams would react. Chimaev immediately expressed interest in a future rematch, but Strickland was left with serious injuries and needs time to recover before anything is officially announced.
Regardless of the future for these two and whether we see them clash again, fans from all over the world were entertained by the debates, press conferences, and the fighting in the cage. This rivalry will be talked about for months to come, and UFC 328 will be remembered as one of the craziest and most controversial UFC events of 2026.
