Khamzat Chimaev suffered the first defeat of his professional MMA career at UFC 328 after losing a close decision to Sean Strickland. The five-round middleweight title fight sparked huge debate among fans and analysts. Many believed Strickland's pressure, jab, and defense deserved the win, while others felt Chimaev had done enough in the earlier rounds to edge the contest. The result dropped Chimaev's unbeaten record from 15-0 to 15-1 and immediately triggered calls for a rematch.
Weight Cut Concerns and Post-Fight Reactions
After the fight, much of the focus shifted toward Chimaev's difficult weight cut. Reports claimed he had cut nearly 46 pounds before stepping into the Octagon, leaving him visibly tired in the later rounds. However, Chimaev now believes more than fatigue played a role in the defeat. The Chechen fighter recently suggested that the judging may have favored Strickland because the event, officials, and champion were all American.
Chimaev Questions Judging Bias
Khamzat Chimaev recently shared his frustration online before deleting the post shortly afterward. The former unbeaten star suggested that being a non-American fighter may have hurt his chances on the scorecards in such a close contest. He pointed out that the judges, promotion, and opponent were all from the United States, while he was representing Chechnya. He hinted that the situation may have influenced the final verdict.
Fight Statistics Favor Strickland
Despite the controversy, the fight statistics strongly favored Sean Strickland. The American fighter landed far more significant strikes overall and dominated the head-strike numbers. He also controlled the striking exchanges in rounds two, three, and five while defending many of Chimaev's takedown attempts as the fight progressed. Two judges scored the fight 48-47 for Strickland, while one judge gave the contest to Chimaev.
Demands for Rematch and Future Outlook
Chimaev has continued demanding a rematch since the loss. He warned Strickland that a second meeting would end violently and accused the champion of avoiding another fight. At the same time, he rejected claims that he was making excuses for losing the belt, insisting that he simply wanted another opportunity to settle the rivalry inside the cage.
Weight Cut and Injury Discussions
The discussion around the fight has also included Chimaev's difficult weight cut. Some members of his team claimed the extreme cut drained his energy midway through the bout, increasing speculation that he could eventually move to light heavyweight. However, Strickland also revealed after the event that he entered the fight injured, explaining that he had suffered shoulder damage during sparring shortly before UFC 328.
Interestingly, Strickland himself has previously accused judges of bias after losing a close title fight to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in Canada.
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