UFC 328 Full Card Results: Bonus Winners, Highlights And Analysis

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MAY 09: (R-L) 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 Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC) Zuffa LLC Sean Strickland became a two-time UFC middleweight champion with an interesting and highly tactical split-decision win over the previously undefeated Khamzat Chimaev. Strickland was taken down nine times, but he succeeded where previous opponents like Dricus du Plessis failed.

Strickland was able to get to his feet and fend off submission attempts from Chimaev. In the second round, Chimaev seemed to gas and that fatigue lasted into the third. He'd won the first round, but those middle rounds proved costly.

Chimaev rebounded to take round four. The final round was close. Chimaev got an early takedown, but didn't enjoy much control and he couldn't do any damage.

He was outlanded in the final frame and failed to get what would have been a pivotal takedown in the last minute of the fight. While it wasn't a knock-down drag-out battle, it was great mixed martial arts. The two men came into the fight after tons of trash talk and seemingly bad blood, but that was buried mid-fight as the two warriors repeatedly showed each other respect.