The mixed martial arts community is buzzing after Sean Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev via split decision at UFC 328, thus reclaiming the middleweight championship.
The fight began with Chimaev dominating the first round, establishing significant ground control. However, Strickland, also known as “Tarzan,” managed to shift the momentum in his favor during the second round.
The subsequent rounds saw both fighters engaging in striking exchanges, with Chimaev less reliant on his wrestling. Neither fighter seemed to rush for a definitive finish. Chimaev meticulously picked apart Strickland, while “Tarzan” consistently landed his jab until the final moments of the bout.
After a grueling 25 minutes, Strickland was declared the winner by split decision, marking his second reign as the UFC middleweight champion.
MMA Community Reacts to Strickland’s Upset Victory
The MMA world erupted with reactions to Strickland’s surprising win. Many fighters and analysts shared their thoughts on social media.
Former champion Henry Cejudo supported the decision, stating, “What a performance by Strickland and an amazing fight. 48-47 Sean was the correct score. Had it tied going into the final round and Strickland did enough to pull off the final round.”
Kamaru Usman expressed a more ambiguous reaction to the scoring, posting simply, “Wow that decision.”
Gilbert Burns congratulated Strickland, exclaiming, “And new!”
Sean O’Malley reacted with shock, writing, “Holy sh*t !!! Wow and new.”
Derek Brunson speculated on Chimaev’s future, noting, “Khamzat Chimaev’s post-fight body language says we might not see him for a while, or if ever again!”
Other notable reactions included those from Ariel Helwani and Michael Chiesa, with Helwani stating, “Sean Strickland does it again. Unbelievable,” and Chiesa adding, “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.”
