Khalil Rountree: Khamzat Chimaev's UFC 328 loss 'hard to watch'
Khalil Rountree didn't recognize the Khamzat Chimaev who fought at UFC 328. Chimaev (15-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) lost his middleweight title to Sean Strickland (31-7 MMA, 18-7 UFC) by split decision in Saturday's main event at Prudential Center in Newark, N. J.
Chimaev was able to take Strickland down and control him in Round 1 but visibly slowed down in Round 2 as he even pulled guard. Rountree, who was a key training partner in Chimaev's camp, couldn't fathom what was happening. "I would say that this was very hard to watch because I wasn't watching the Khamzat that 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? ' The first round was great.
The second round things took a big turn. "Then Round 3, in my opinion, after that round was done, I remember checking off my mind and give that round to Khamzat; I'm biased. Round 4, I was like, 'OK, cool, we're up three (rounds) going into five and then five, I blurred.
So, all to say, I think that he did enough to win the fight. I think (Rounds) 1, 3 and 4. I don't really remember watching No.