UFC 328 delivered fireworks at the Prudential Center last Saturday night (May 9, 2026) in Newark, New Jersey, but for some fighters, the post-fight hangover is hitting harder than others. While Tatsuro Taira suffered a fifth-round knockout loss to Joshua Van in their Flyweight title bout, and Jeremy Stephens was submitted by King Green in the opening round of their Lightweight clash, no one is feeling the sting quite like Khamzat Chimaev.
Coming into the event, "Borz" was riding a 15-fight unbeaten streak, a perfect record that spanned his entire eight-year professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career. As the reigning Middleweight champion of the world, he had built a reputation as an unstoppable force in the UFC—a reputation earned by bullying Dricus du Plessis at UFC 310 in August 2025 to claim the title. That dominant performance was just the latest in a nine-fight UFC run that included wins over Robert Whittaker, Kevin Holland, Gilbert Burns, and Kamaru Usman. A victory over Sean Strickland would have not only added another big name to his resume but also marked his first-ever title defense.
Unfortunately for Chimaev, the script flipped in ways few expected.
For five rounds, the champion and challenger traded blows on the feet, a surprising turn given that most fans predicted another dominant grappling display from Chimaev. After a strong first round where Chimaev looked to impose his wrestling, Strickland—nicknamed "Tarzan"—made critical adjustments. His takedown defense forced Chimaev to abandon his game plan and rely on his striking attack. To his credit, Chimaev's striking looked sharp, with Strickland's face becoming a bloody mess thanks to a broken nose. But Strickland refused to back down, weathering the storm and staying in the fight.
When the final bell rang, it was Strickland's hand that was raised, handing Chimaev his first professional loss and derailing his championship momentum. Now, the question on everyone's mind isn't just what went wrong—it's what comes next for the former champion. Will Chimaev demand an immediate rematch, or will he need to climb back up the ladder? Either way, one thing is clear: the Middleweight division just got a lot more interesting, and Chimaev's journey is far from over.