The mixed martial arts community is buzzing after Sean Strickland’s triumphant performance at UFC 328, where he secured a split-decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev to reclaim the middleweight championship.
The fight initially appeared to favor Chimaev, who dominated the first round with significant ground control. However, Strickland, known as “Tarzan,” shifted the momentum in the second round, demonstrating enough to sway the judges. The subsequent rounds saw both fighters engage in striking exchanges on their feet, with Chimaev seemingly opting for less wrestling and Strickland effectively utilizing his jab throughout the bout.
After a hard-fought 25 minutes, Strickland was declared the winner by split decision, marking his return to the middleweight throne.
The MMA world has erupted with reactions to Strickland’s victory:
- Henry Cejudo praised Strickland’s performance, agreeing with the 48-47 score and noting Strickland’s strong final round.
- Kamaru Usman reacted with a more ambiguous, “Wow that decision.”
- Gilbert Burns and Sean O’Malley expressed their surprise and congratulations with exclamations of “And new!”
- Derek Brunson speculated about Khamzat Chimaev’s future in the sport based on his post-fight demeanor.
- Paulo Costa shared a humorous reaction.
- Other figures like The MMA Guru, Ariel Helwani, and Michael Chiesa also shared their astonishment and congratulations, with Chiesa emphasizing Strickland’s earned victory through volume.
Sean Strickland Reclaims Middleweight Throne in Thrilling UFC 328 Bout
Fans and fellow fighters alike have voiced their reactions to Sean Strickland’s stunning upset at UFC 328. Strickland managed to defeat Khamzat Chimaev by split decision, reclaiming the middleweight championship in a highly anticipated matchup.
The fight’s narrative shifted dramatically after the first round. While Chimaev initially established dominance with extensive ground control, Strickland, nicknamed “Tarzan,” found his rhythm in the second round and began to turn the tide. The remaining three rounds saw a shift in strategy from Chimaev, who relied less on his wrestling and more on striking. Both fighters engaged in a back-and-forth striking battle, with Strickland consistently landing his jab and keeping Chimaev on the defensive until the final bell.
Ultimately, after five grueling rounds, the judges scored the bout in favor of Sean Strickland, making him a two-time UFC middleweight champion.
Here’s a look at some of the reactions from the MMA community:
- Henry Cejudo lauded Strickland’s performance, 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 cryptically reacted with “Wow that decision.”
- Gilbert Burns and Sean O’Malley both tweeted exclamations of “And new!” signifying the change in championship status.
- Derek Brunson commented on Khamzat Chimaev’s body language, suggesting he might take an extended break or even retire.
- Paulo Costa shared a humorous reaction.
- Other notable reactions came from The MMA Guru, who highlighted Strickland as the last hope against a perceived trend; Ariel Helwani, who simply stated, “Sean Strickland does it again. Unbelievable.”; and Michael Chiesa, who declared, “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.”
