Cope? Khamzat’s teammates can’t ‘understand’ UFC 328 defeat — ‘Hard for me to watch’
What exactly happened to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328? That’s the question many fans — and even some of his own teammates — are still asking after the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion suffered the first loss of his professional career this past weekend (Sat., May 9, 2026), dropping a razor-close split decision […]
May 9, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, UNITED STATES; Khamzat Chimaev (red gloves) fights Sean Strickland (blue gloves) during UFC 328 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images What exactly happened to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 ? That’s the question many fans — and even some of his own teammates — are still asking after the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion suffered the first loss of his professional career this past weekend (Sat.
, May 9, 2026), dropping a razor-close split decision to Sean Strickland inside Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The five-round title fight has become one of the most debated decisions of the year . Some fans believe Chimaev’s heavier shots and grappling control did enough to secure the victory, while others argue Strickland’s volume and activity — especially late — stole the fight.
Either way, it was incredibly close. For UFC Light Heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree , who helped Chimaev prepare during the latter half of camp in Newport Beach, Calif. , the performance simply didn’t look like the fighter he trained with.
“I would say it was really hard to watch because I wasn’t watching the Khamzat I know,” Rountree said on the JAXXON Podcast . “It was hard for me to count every round and really analyze the fight because I was so shocked, like, ‘What’s wrong with Khamzat? ’” Rountree admitted he was emotionally invested in the fight and still scored it for Chimaev.