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. He’s a f*cking savage. I should be a better f*cking example but I try to sell these fights for you f*ckers.”
After the fight was over, Chimaev actually put the title belt around Strickland’s waist before leaving the octagon. Strickland also paid homage to Chimaev for giving him everything he could handle during the 25 minute war of attrition.
“That motherf*cker would not go back,” Strickland said. “I’m hitting him with everything and he just keeps coming forward. Crazy.”
A touch of gloves actually started the fight but then Chimaev took less than 15 seconds to close the distance and score his first takedown. Chimaev wasted no time trying to take the back with Strickland playing defense on the ground.
Chimaev eventually secured the position as he started working for a submission but Strickland stayed calm and defended well before scrambling in an attempt to get up to his feet. But Chimaev maintained control as he kept dragging Strickland back to the ground again.
Chimaev nearly locked on a choke just before the round ended but the champion was dominant through the first five minutes.
Strickland came out firing with his jab to start round two as he stood his ground in the center of the cage but Chimaev just kept inching forward to set up his takedowns. When Chimaev finally shot, Strickland defended and he actually ended up putting the Chechen on his back in an unexpected position.
Strickland let him up and immediately started connecting with punches before shutting down another wrestling attempt from Chimaev. Back on top again, Strickland was peppering away with punches and holding Chimaev down without much resistance.
Chimaev came out firing in the third but Strickland quickly fired back with his lead left jab and then coming back over the top with his right hand.
The jab was stabbing away at Chimaev, who tried to counter with big, looping punches but he couldn’t find a home on Strickland’s chin. Strickland was firing away with volume but staying patient not to overextend himself and potentially hand Chimaev a takedown.
A big right hand from Chimaev found a home in the fourth round as he stayed in pursuit, pushing Strickland back towards the cage again. He also followed up with a good body kick and Strickland just wasn’t answering back as much.
Strickland finally answered with a stiff right hand as Chimaev was beginning to wear some damage on his face. But Chimaev was mixing things up well, going to the body and then back up to the head again and it seemed to be wearing on Strickland.
That’s when Chimaev finally shot for another takedown as he put Strickland on the canvas and he held onto that position until time expired.
With five minutes remaining, Chimaev immediately scored a takedown and Strickland battled to break free and eventually got back to his feet. From there, Strickland started tossing out that lead jab again but he wasn’t really putting any combinations together.
Midway through the round, Strickland cracked Chimaev with a stiff right hand while still throwing that left jab that was landing consistently. Chimaev finally exploded forward with another takedown but Strickland resisted well and reset in the center.
Strickland kept peppering way with that lead left hand and that like helped him secure the victory as he claimed the fifth round and the UFC middleweight title.
As for Chimaev, his title reign ends almost as quickly as it started. Despite overwhelming odds in his favor, Chimaev’s conditioning pretty clearly failed him and Strickland was able to drag him into deep waters where he took over and won the fight to become a two-time UFC champion.
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