Chimaev vs Strickland Prediction
⭐️ The main event of UFC 328 offers fans the eagerly awaited first middleweight title defense by Khamzat Chimaev. Facing the champion is the tenacious former belt holder Sean Strickland, eager to reclaim his title. The relationship between these two, who once trained together, is strained to say the least. It's fair to say there's no love lost between them. The showdown in Newark promises to finally settle the score between the Chechen and the American. What can we expect from their clash? Find out in the Scores24 editorial prediction.
Fascinating Facts About the Fighters
Khamzat Chimaev
- Chimaev has been a three-time Swedish freestyle wrestling champion, often not conceding a single point in some tournaments.
- In early 2021, Chimaev battled a severe case of COVID-19, which temporarily forced him to step away from his career. However, he made a successful return to the octagon.
- He holds the record for the fastest consecutive wins in the promotion's history (10 days) and for the most strikes landed in a title fight (529 strikes against Dricus du Plessis).
Sean Strickland
- Strickland grew up in a troubled household, facing physical and emotional abuse from his father. At a young age, he had to defend his mother by attacking his father with a guitar.
- Before joining the world's premier league, he dominated the King of the Cage organization, where he successfully defended his championship title five times.
- He is known for having one of the most unconventional defensive techniques in stand-up fighting, allowing minimal significant head strikes.
H2H Stats Fights and Previous Results
Khamzat Chimaev Player Overview
At 31 years old, Khamzat Chimaev, representing the UAE, burst onto the UFC scene in 2020. In his early days with the promotion, he made a splash in the welterweight division with three standout fights, earning three performance bonuses. By October 2024, at UFC 308, Chimaev solidified his contender status in the middleweight category by finishing Robert Whittaker with a jaw lock in the first round. In August 2025, at UFC 319, "Borz" achieved his career's primary goal by defeating Dricus Du Plessis to become the new middleweight champion.
Heading into his first title defense, Khamzat boasts an impeccable 15-0 record, with an equal number of victories by knockouts and submissions. He now stands as a well-rounded champion who has mastered the art of blending aggressive grappling with disciplined long-range tactics.
Match Results: Khamzat Chimaev
Sean Strickland Player Overview
The 35-year-old American, Sean Strickland, is a veteran with a record of 30 wins in 37 professional bouts. Sean's journey in the UFC began back in 2014, initially as a welterweight fighter. After moving up to the middleweight division, he earned a title shot in September 2023, where he sensationally took the belt from Israel Adesanya.
After losing the title in a close fight with Du Plessis, Strickland avenged the defeat in June 2024 by convincingly beating Paulo Costa. In February 2025, at UFC 312, the American attempted to reclaim the belt in a rematch with Du Plessis but lost again by decision. Sean took his last step towards another title shot in February 2026, when he finished Anthony Hernandez via technical knockout in Houston. Now, Sean is once again headlining a historic event.
Match Results: Sean Strickland
⭐ Editorial Prediction
Undoubtedly, Chimaev stands as the favorite in this matchup. However, we're steering clear of predicting the outright winner due to the daunting odds! Instead, let's focus on the round totals. A bet on over 2.5 rounds seems like a solid choice. Stylistically, this bout is destined for a prolonged battle. Strickland boasts one of the best takedown defenses in the league, which will force Chimaev to expend significant energy with each takedown attempt and during clinch work. In his recent fights, Khamzat has shown a shift away from seeking quick finishes, opting instead for pragmatic control over his opponents throughout the bout. Additionally, it's worth noting that 4 out of Strickland's last 5 fights went to the judges' decision, as did 2 of Chimaev's last 3. There's a strong likelihood that their head-to-head will follow a similar pattern and at least reach the halfway point.