Fresh off a chaotic fight week filled with tension and hostility, Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev finally settled their rivalry inside the cage at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey. What began with verbal attacks, security interventions, and heated face offs ended with Strickland earning a narrow split decision victory after five demanding rounds in the Prudential Center main event.
Despite their bitter history, the two surprisingly showed respect before the opening bell, touching gloves twice before engaging in battle. Once the action started, Chimaev wasted no time imposing himself. The champion attacked the body early before securing a quick takedown. From there, he controlled much of the first round with relentless grappling pressure. He repeatedly dragged Strickland back to the mat, threatened with back control, and searched for a rear naked choke. Although Strickland defended well, Chimaev clearly dictated the pace and secured the opening frame.
Strickland responded strongly in the second round. His jab became sharper and his defensive wrestling improved significantly. He managed to stop several takedown attempts while landing clean counters during exchanges. At one stage, Strickland even found himself in top position, helping him level the momentum and take the round on many scorecards.
The third round turned into a close striking contest. Chimaev kept marching forward while targeting the body with kicks and punches. Strickland answered with accurate jabs and right hands, but Chimaev’s pressure and activity appeared to edge the frame. The champion also opened a cut around Strickland’s nose as the pace intensified.
Round four followed a similar pattern. Chimaev mixed striking with timely wrestling and secured another takedown late in the round. Strickland stayed composed and returned to his feet quickly, but Chimaev’s aggression continued to impress the judges.
Entering the final round, the fight remained extremely competitive. Chimaev immediately looked for another takedown, but Strickland showed resilience and determination by repeatedly standing back up and landing meaningful shots in open exchanges. Both fighters connected with heavy right hands during the closing moments before the bout went the full distance.
When the scorecards were announced, Strickland emerged victorious via split decision with scores of 48 to 47, 47 to 48, and 48 to 47, handing Chimaev one of the toughest defeats of his UFC career.
