In a night of high-stakes drama at UFC 328, the middleweight title fight between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev came down to a single, unforgettable round—and the debate is still raging.
The bout, held last Saturday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, was decided by a split decision in the fifth and final frame. Judges Eric Colon and Sal D’Amato scored the round for Strickland, while Sue Sanidad gave it to Chimaev. The result: "Tarzan" walked away with the belt, but many fans and analysts are questioning whether "Borz" was robbed of the championship.
To settle the controversy—or at least fuel the discussion—UFC released the full fifth round on its YouTube channel, giving fans a closer look at every punch, takedown, and scramble from those pivotal five minutes. The footage has already sparked heated debate across the MMA community.
Not one to stay quiet, Chimaev wasted no time demanding an immediate rematch. "I want that fight again," he said, putting his planned jump to light heavyweight on hold. For now, the middleweight division remains his focus.
But a rematch isn't that simple. The promotion would have to bypass No. 2-ranked contender Nassourdine Imavov, who lost to Strickland at UFC Vegas 67 in early 2023. Then there's former champion Dricus Du Plessis, who has two wins over Strickland and is eager for another shot at the crown. The path forward is anything but clear.
For now, the MMA world waits—and debates—while Strickland celebrates a victory that might be remembered as one of the most controversial in recent UFC history.
