The debate over the UFC 328 main event is far from settled. Last Saturday in Newark, New Jersey, Sean Strickland narrowly defeated Khamzat Chimaev via split decision, reclaiming the middleweight title and ending Chimaev's brief reign after just one defense. Two judges scored the bout 48-47 for Strickland, but not everyone is convinced the right man won—including former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

Usman, who pushed Chimaev to the limit in a closely contested fight at UFC 294 in 2023, sees a striking parallel between his own experience and Strickland's victory. Despite landing takedowns and pressing forward throughout their bout, Usman fell short on the scorecards. Now, he questions how Strickland earned the nod while spending much of the fight retreating and relying heavily on his jab.

"I don't understand how you win the fight when you were backing up the whole time and throwing nothing but jabs," Usman said on his Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo. "When one guy is marching forward, throwing jabs, mixing in overhands, and landing takedowns—and he did this for almost five rounds—I don't see how he loses this fight."

The split decision came from judges Eric Colon and Sal D'Amato, both scoring it 48-47 for Strickland. Interestingly, public opinion leans toward the official result: on MMA Decisions, over 64 percent of more than 1,400 fan scorecards agreed with Strickland's victory. Still, with Chimaev's relentless pressure and grappling, the controversy underscores how subjective MMA judging can be—especially in a sport where forward movement and aggression often carry weight.

As the dust settles, this fight adds another chapter to the ongoing debate about what truly wins rounds in the Octagon. For fans and fighters alike, it's a reminder that every punch, takedown, and step forward can tip the scales.