Sean Strickland stuns Khamzat Chimaev with split decision victory to reclaim title in UFC 328 main event

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MAY 09: (L-R) Sean Strickland punches Khamzat Chimaev of Russia in the UFC middleweight championship fight during the UFC 328 event at Prudential Center on May 09, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Sean Strickland is champion again after stunning Khamzat Chimaev across five rounds to win a split decision in the UFC 328 main event. Despite all the bad blood between them, Strickland stuck to his usual strategy as he stayed behind a nasty lead jab that just battered Chimaev for the better part of 25 minutes.

While Chimaev had a dominant opening round with a takedown and ground control, he couldn’t keep up with that pace and Strickland stormed back on him. There were several close round but Strickland ability to land with volume and accuracy proved to be the difference with two judges giving him 48-47 scorecards and the third official going 48-47 for Chimaev. That was still enough for Strickland to earn the victory and afterwards he actually issued an immediate apology for some of the venomous trash talk he spewed leading up to the fight.

“I just want to apologize to my American fans, to my Muslim fans and my Chiristian fans,” Strickland said after he was crowned champion again. “I went too f*cking hard. I’ll admit it.

I respect all you guys. “Chechnya has great fighters. They’re savage.