Underdog stories never get old, and UFC 328 delivered a rare night where both underdogs in title bouts walked away victorious. While Joshua Van’s comeback submission was impressive, Sean Strickland’s triumph stood out as something truly special.
Entering the fight as a heavy underdog, with bookmakers widely expecting champion Khamzat Chimaev to submit him, Strickland traded blows with Chimaev for a grueling 25 minutes. His performance proved enough, earning a split decision victory to become the new UFC middleweight champion and halt Chimaev’s undefeated streak.
Many observers, including this writer, doubted Strickland’s chances. Given that no one had cracked Chimaev’s code before, skepticism was understandable. Yet Strickland had been in this position once already.
At UFC 293, Strickland challenged then-champion Israel Adesanya. Originally, Dricus Du Plessis was expected to get the next title shot, but the UFC booked Adesanya for the Australia pay-per-view. Those plans fell apart when Strickland showcased exceptional defense and pressure, taking a unanimous decision and the belt.
During the opening round of the UFC 328 main event, it appeared the fight might turn one-sided in Chimaev’s favor. He took Strickland down within the first minute and dominated the action.
But Strickland regrouped in round two. He found his striking rhythm, pressing forward and denying Chimaev opportunities to dictate the pace. Strickland stuffed two takedown attempts and landed several clean shots on the ground when Chimaev failed to get up after the second.
For the first time since facing Gilbert Burns in 2023, Chimaev chose not to attempt a takedown in round three. Instead, he traded on the feet with Strickland, who continued to get the better of the exchanges. Chimaev increased his output in the fourth round, evening the score at two rounds apiece heading into the fifth.
The final round could have gone either way. Strickland landed effective jabs while constantly moving backward. Chimaev remained aggressive, securing two takedowns but doing less damage than Strickland’s strikes.
Two judges ultimately scored the round for Strickland, crowning him a two-time middleweight champion and giving him his second major upset in UFC title fights.
The middleweight division’s next steps remain intriguing. A rematch between Strickland and Chimaev would be compelling, though Chimaev may move up to 205 pounds next. Du Plessis, who hasn’t fought since losing the belt to Chimaev but holds two wins over Strickland, re-enters the title conversation. Nassourdine Imavov, ranked No. 2 before this fight, is also seeking his first UFC title opportunity.
Whatever unfolds, one truth remains: either Strickland will never again be considered a long shot, or he will forever be known as the UFC’s ultimate underdog.
