They said Khamzat Chimaev was going to run through Sean Strickland.
That is not how UFC 328 played out.
From the opening seconds, Chimaev pushed forward with pressure and takedown attempts, trying to turn the fight into a fast finish built on control and pace. The expectation was early dominance and a clear statement win.
Strickland did not disappear.
He kept his balance, shut down entries, broke grips, and forced the fight back to striking every time Chimaev tried to lock him down. The control that was supposed to take over never fully settled.
Round after round, Chimaev kept coming forward, but Strickland stayed in the fight, reading the pressure and refusing to be held down long enough for it to become decisive.
By the championship rounds, the same pattern held. Pressure from Chimaev, resistance from Strickland, resets back to striking.
Then the scorecards came.
Split decision.
Sean Strickland wins.
The story shifted because the expected outcome did not happen. The fighter built on overwhelming opponents could not close the gap the way people predicted.
Strickland stayed composed for five rounds and took away the finish line Chimaev was supposed to reach.
Source: UFC 328 middleweight main event fight highlights
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