UFC 328 is shaping up to be a night of surprises, and Sean Strickland might just be the one to deliver the biggest shock yet. The former middleweight champion enters as a heavy underdog against undefeated powerhouse Khamzat Chimaev, but don't count him out just yet—especially if you listen to someone who's shared the Octagon with both fighters.
Dricus Du Plessis, the current middleweight champ, knows a thing or two about Strickland's grit. He's beaten "Tarzan" twice—first at UFC 297 and again at UFC 312—but he's also tasted defeat against Chimaev at UFC 319. That unique perspective gives Du Plessis a front-row seat to the strengths and weaknesses of both men, and he's putting his money on Strickland's raw power.
"Strickland is a lot stronger than Khamzat on a physical level," Du Plessis told Fight Forecast. "I think he's going to surprise some people."
Du Plessis breaks down the key battle: Chimaev's relentless takedown game versus Strickland's ability to scramble back to his feet. "The first round is going to tell us so much about this fight," he explains. "I know Khamzat is going to get him down. I've taken Strickland down so many times. But to keep him there? That's the big question."
The South African champion points out that Strickland's cardio is a game-changer. While Chimaev throws hard, Du Plessis notes his strikes aren't "scary hard" and can be predictable. Against Strickland's elite defensive skills—some of the best in MMA—landing a knockout shot requires setup, and Du Plessis isn't sure Chimaev has the tools to do it.
Still, the fight hinges on one critical factor: can Strickland survive the first-round onslaught? "If Khamzat takes him down in that first round, holds him down, and Strickland cannot get up, it's Khamzat's fight," Du Plessis warns. "But if Strickland gets up two or three times in the first round, it's not going to get easier with sweat and fatigue. It uses a lot more energy to keep a guy down than it does for the guy getting up."
The stakes couldn't be higher. Chimaev, known for his suffocating grappling and undefeated record, is looking to cement his status as the division's next big thing. Strickland, meanwhile, is fighting to prove his reign as champion wasn't a fluke. With Du Plessis's insights, fans should expect a war of attrition where strength, stamina, and willpower collide.
One thing's for sure: May 9 at Newark's Prudential Center will answer the burning question—can Strickland's strength and defense neutralize Chimaev's chaos? As Du Plessis sums it up, "I do believe Strickland has every tool to not let that happen and maybe snatch that title away."