Sean Strickland defeated Hamzat Chimaev.
Sean Strickland won an even match. PDO
In the UFC, Finnish time was seen on the night before Sunday, a big surprise when the American Sean Strickland defeated the previously unbeaten Hamzat Chimayev and became the middleweight champion again.
The 35-year-old Strickland won the five-round title fight by a 2-1 split decision at UFC 328 at the Prudential Center in Newark. Two judges scored the fight 48-47 for him, while one saw the 32-year-old Chimaev as the winner by the same numbers.
The win made Strickland a two-time UFC champion. He became champion for the first time in September 2023 by winning Israel Adesanyabut lost his belt right away For Dricus du Pless in January 2024.
There was a lot of tension surrounding the match even before the cage door closed. Strickland called Chimaev ESPN’s including several times as a coward and a dog, among other things. In addition to this, at the press conference of the match, Chimaev, among other things, kicked the American.
However, after the match, the two showed each other respect. Chimayev even placed the championship belt around Strickland’s waist after the result was decided.
– I want to apologize. Maybe I went too far. I respect him and all Chechens. He’s an animal,” Strickland said after the match, according to ESPN.
Chimaev, who went into the match as the favorite, left the cage quickly after the loss and vented his frustration by tearing his gloves from his hands and throwing them to the audience on the way to the locker room.
The loss was the first in a professional free fight for the 32-year-old Chimajev.
Strickland is pictured on the right. PDO
