Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland

Matchup Analysis·Middleweight Bout

↑UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland1 / 13

←Van vs Taira→

Red Corner

Khamzat Chimaev

“Borz”

15-09 UFCLast9mo ago

Complete Fighter

Hot Streak

2× Title

3× 5R

High Variance

Early Chaos

6'2"ht·75"reach·Orthodoxstance·32age

Middleweight185 lbs

Blue Corner

Sean Strickland

30-724 UFCLast2mo ago

Pressure Fighter

Aging Threat

10× Title

10× 5R

High Wear

6'1"ht·76"reach·Orthodoxstance·35age

Chimaev 82%

19% Strickland

Polymarket

Outcome—

Striking—

DecisionChimaevSlight edge

GrapplingChimaevDominant

KO Adv.ChimaevClear edge

Sub Adv.ChimaevSlight edge

Durability—

Signals

1 signal

SUBMISSION

Chimaev actively hunts submissions on the ground.

CQ Core Edges

CQ Striking Differential

Strikes landed vs absorbed

—

Chimaev

+1.72

Strickland

+1.47

CQ Grappling Threat

TD threat vs this opponent

Chimaev

1.27

Strickland

0.11

CQ Decision Advantage

Round Win Rate

Chimaev

89%

Strickland

72%

CQ Durability

KO exposure history

—

Chimaev

Ironclad

Strickland

Durable

0 KO lossesKO losses2 KO losses

0.00KD / fight0.13

CQ Pace Index

Combined SLpM

Extreme

Chimaev4.04SLpM

SLpM6.04Strickland

10.1

LowModHighExtreme

CQ Cardio Pattern

Late-fight output

—

ChimaevOutput Holds Steady+6% R1→R3

StricklandOutput Holds Steady+19% R1→R3

Finish History

Chimaev

KO/TKO ×2Sub ×4

Finish rate (wins)

67%

6/9

Stopped rate (losses)

—

Strickland

KO/TKO ×5Sub ×1

Finish rate (wins)

35%

6/17

Stopped rate (losses)

29%

2/7

Edge & Exposure

Chimaev

EdgeUnbeaten

9 UFC fights without a loss. An unblemished record at this sample size is a meaningful form signal.

EdgeGrappling Dominant

Top-tier takedown threat for this division. Consistently forces the fight to the mat.

Strickland

EdgeStriking Dominant

Net striking margin is among the best in this division. Consistently lands more than absorbed.

ExposureWear Concern

High accumulated UFC fight volume. Susceptible to opponents who apply pressure in later rounds.

Opposition Quality

Chimaev9–0UFC

vs. Winning-Record Opps

7–0

Record (7)

+1.4

Str Diff/Min

57%

Finish (W)

vs. Veteran Opps (≥8 UFC wins)

-63% step-up

6–0

Record (6)

+1.4

Str Diff/Min

50%

Finish (W)

vs. Elite Opps (≥15 UFC wins)

2–0

Record (2)

+0.2

Str Diff/Min

50%

Finish (W)

Strickland17–7UFC

vs. Winning-Record Opps

15–6

Record (21)

+1.4

Str Diff/Min

33%

Finish (W)

vs. Veteran Opps (≥8 UFC wins)

+5% step-up

5–2

Record (7)

+1.8

Str Diff/Min

20%

Finish (W)

vs. Elite Opps (≥15 UFC wins)

Not enough qualifying fights

Division Percentile Ranks

ChimaevMiddleweightStrickland

89th

Striking Differential

83rd

96th

Grappling Threat

46th

99th

Round Win Rate

91st

90th

TD Defense

72nd

93rd

Durability

84th

46th

Finishing Rate

13th

Recent Form

Chimaev

Stat

Strickland

1.794.04 career

⚠↓2.25

SLpMOutput

↑0.69

6.736.04 career

1.172.32 career

↓1.15

SApMAbsorbed

⚠↑1.20

5.774.57 career

11.369.57 career

↑1.79

TD AttAttempts/15m

—

0.691.80 career

⚠↓1.11

Sub AttAttempts/15m

—

Stat Breakdown

Finishes

Chimaev33% distance

Finish 67%Decision 33%

Strickland67% distance

Finish 33%Decision 67%

Chimaev 9 UFC fights·Strickland 24 UFC fights

Avg Fight Length

Chimaev

9.2min

Strickland

15.9min

Combined Distance Rate

58%of fights go the distance

CQ Finish Risk

KO Danger

Chimaev→Strickland

Elevated

Striking Threat

KDs per 15 min0.41

KO finish rate22%

Strickland's Chin

KDs absorbed/fight0.13

KO loss rate29%

Strickland→Chimaev

Low

Striking Threat

KDs per 15 min0.28

KO finish rate29%

Chimaev's Chin*

KDs absorbed/fight0.00

KO loss rate0%

No KO vulnerability on record. Chin score is baseline estimate.

Sub Danger

Chimaev→Strickland

Low

Sub Threat

Sub att / 15 min1.80

Sub win rate44%

Strickland's Vulnerability

Sub loss rate0%

Strickland→Chimaev

Minimal

Sub Threat

Sub att / 15 min0.20

Sub win rate6%

Chimaev's Vulnerability

Sub loss rate0%

ChimaevWin MethodStrickland

22%

KO / TKO

29%

44%

Submission

33%

Decision

65%

9 UFC wins · 2 KO · 4 Sub · 3 Dec17 UFC wins · 5 KO · 1 Sub · 11 Dec

Chimaev

Loss Method

Strickland

—

KO / TKO

29%

—

Submission

—

Decision

71%

No UFC losses7 UFC losses · 2 KO · 5 Dec

Chimaev6 stoppages · 2 KO · 4 Sub

KO Win

Sub Win

All stoppages

WSubRobert WhittakerR1 · 3:34

WSubKevin HollandR1 · 2:13

WSubLi JingliangR1 · 3:16

WKOGerald MeerschaertR1 · 0:17

WKORhys McKeeR1 · 3:09

Strickland8 stoppages · 7 KO · 1 Sub

KO Win

KO Loss

Sub Win

All stoppages

WKOAnthony HernandezR3 · 2:23

WKOAbus MagomedovR2 · 4:20

LKOAlex PereiraR1 · 2:36

WKOBrendan AllenR2 · 1:32

WKONordine TalebR2 · 3:10

Historical Context

Chimaev — Recent Fights

Opponent

MethodRndDate

Dricus Du PlessisVeteranTITLE

U-DEC

Aug '25

37 SS (79%)·13 abs·12/17 td·1 td taken·1300s ctrl

Robert WhittakerEliteTITLE

SUB

R13:34

Oct '24

3 SS (75%)·2 abs·2/4 td·200s ctrl·1 sub att

Kamaru UsmanElite

M-DEC

Oct '23

38 SS (54%)·36 abs·4/12 td·436s ctrl·1 sub att

Kevin HollandVeteran

SUB

R12:13

Sep '22

0 SS (0%)·0 abs·2/5 td·116s ctrl·2 sub att

Gilbert BurnsVeteran

U-DEC

Apr '22

108 SS (48%)·119 abs·2/3 td·143s ctrl·1 kd

Li JingliangVeteran

SUB

R13:16

Oct '21

25 SS (100%)·0 abs·1/2 td·181s ctrl·3 sub att

View full fight log →

Strickland — Recent Fights

Opponent

MethodRndDate

Anthony HernandezVeteranTITLE

KO/TKO

R32:23

Feb '26

110 SS (46%)·55 abs·18s ctrl·1 kd

Dricus Du PlessisVeteranTITLE

U-DEC

Feb '25

128 SS (49%)·147 abs·1 td taken

Paulo CostaTITLE

S-DEC

Jun '24

182 SS (45%)·158 abs

Dricus Du PlessisTITLE

S-DEC

Jan '24

173 SS (42%)·137 abs·6 td taken

Israel AdesanyaVeteranTITLE

U-DEC

Sep '23

137 SS (53%)·94 abs·14s ctrl·1 kd

Abus MagomedovTITLE

KO/TKO

R24:20

Jul '23

81 SS (43%)·47 abs·1 td taken·10s ctrl·1 kd

View full fight log →

Common Opponents

Kamaru UsmanSplit result

Chimaev

MD·R3·2023

Strickland

UD·R3·2017

Dricus Du PlessisSplit result

Chimaev

UD·R5·2025

Strickland

UD·R5·2025

Matchup·MW·5R

↑UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland

1/13←→

Red Corner

Khamzat Chimaev

“Borz”

15-09 UFC9mo ago

6'2"ht75"reachOrthodox32 yrs

VS·MW·5R

Blue Corner

Sean Strickland

30-724 UFC2mo ago

6'1"ht76"reachOrthodox35 yrs

Polymarket

Chimaev 82%19% Strickland

Striking—

DecisionChimaevSlight edge

GrapplingChimaevDominant

Durability—

KO Adv.ChimaevClear edge

Sub Adv.ChimaevSlight edge

Signals

SUBMISSIONChimaev actively hunts the finish on the ground.

CQ Core Edges

CQStriking Edge

—

Chimaev+1.72

Strickland+1.47

CQGrappling

Chimaev

Chimaev1.27

Strickland0.11

CQDecision

Chimaev

Chimaev89%

Strickland72%

CQDurability

—

Chimaev96Ironclad

Strickland85Durable

CQCardio

—

ChimaevOutput Holds Steady

StricklandOutput Holds Steady

CQPace Index

Extreme

Chimaev4.04SLpM

Strickland6.04SLpM

10.1

LowModHighExtreme

Finish History

Chimaev

KO/TKO ×2Sub ×4

Finish Rate (Wins)

67%

6/9

Stopped Rate (Losses)

—

Strickland

KO/TKO ×5Sub ×1

Finish Rate (Wins)

35%

6/17

Stopped Rate (Losses)

29%

2/7

Opposition Quality

Chimaev9–0UFC

Strickland17–7UFC

vs. Winning-Record

7–0n=7

+1.4strike diff/min

15–6n=21

+1.4strike diff/min

vs. Veteran (≥8W)

6–0n=6

+1.4strike diff/min

5–2n=7

+1.8strike diff/min

vs. Elite (≥15W)

2–0n=2

+0.2strike diff/min

—

Division Percentile Ranks

ChimaevStrickland

89thStriking Diff83rd

96thGrappling46th

99thRound Win Rate91st

90thTD Defense72nd

93rdDurability84th

46thFinish Rate13th

Recent Form

Chimaev

Stat

Strickland

1.79

4.04 career

↓2.25

SLpMOutput

↑0.69

6.73

6.04 career

1.17

2.32 career

↓1.15

SApMAbsorbed

↑1.20

5.77

4.57 career

11.36

9.57 career

↑1.79

TD AttAtt/15m

—

0.69

1.80 career

↓1.11

SubAtt/15m

—

Stat Breakdown

Chimaev33% distance

Finish 67%Decision 33%

Strickland67% distance

Finish 33%Decision 67%

Chimaev 9 UFC fights·Strickland 24 UFC fights

Avg Fight Length

Chimaev

9.2min

Strickland

15.9min

Combined Distance Rate

58%of fights go the distance

CQ Finish Risk

KO Danger

Chimaev→Strickland

38Elevated

Threat

KD / 15 min0.41

KO rate22%

Strickland's Chin

KDs abs/fight0.13

KO loss rate29%

Strickland→Chimaev

23Low

Threat

KD / 15 min0.28

KO rate29%

Chimaev's Chin

KDs abs/fight0.00

KO loss rate0%

Sub Danger

Chimaev→Strickland

19Low

Threat

Sub att / 15m1.80

Sub win rate44%

Strickland's Vuln

Sub loss rate0%

Strickland→Chimaev

10Minimal

Threat

Sub att / 15m0.20

Sub win rate6%

Chimaev's Vuln

Sub loss rate0%

ChimaevWinStrickland

22%

29%

44%

Sub

33%

Dec

65%

9 wins2 KO4 Sub3 Dec

11 Dec1 Sub5 KO17 wins

ChimaevLossStrickland

—

29%

—

Sub

—

Dec

71%

—

5 Dec2 KO7 losses

Round Distribution

Chimaev

6 stoppages2 KO4 Sub

All Stoppages

WSUBWhittakerR1 · 3:34

WSUBHollandR1 · 2:13

WSUBJingliangR1 · 3:16

WKOMeerschaertR1 · 0:17

Strickland

8 stoppages7 KO1 Sub

All Stoppages

WKOHernandezR3 · 2:23

WKOMagomedovR2 · 4:20

LKOPereiraR1 · 2:36

WKOAllenR2 · 1:32

Historical Context

Chimaev—Recent Fights

OpponentMethodRndDate

Dricus Du PlessisVeteranTITLE

U-DEC · R5 · Aug '25

37 SS (79%)·13 abs·12/17 td·1 td taken·1300s ctrl

Robert WhittakerEliteTITLE

SUB · R1 · 3:34 · Oct '24

3 SS (75%)·2 abs·2/4 td·200s ctrl·1 sub att

Kamaru UsmanElite

M-DEC · R3 · Oct '23

38 SS (54%)·36 abs·4/12 td·436s ctrl·1 sub att

Kevin HollandVeteran

SUB · R1 · 2:13 · Sep '22

0 SS (0%)·0 abs·2/5 td·116s ctrl·2 sub att

Gilbert BurnsVeteran

U-DEC · R3 · Apr '22

108 SS (48%)·119 abs·2/3 td·143s ctrl·1 kd

Li JingliangVeteran

SUB · R1 · 3:16 · Oct '21

25 SS (100%)·0 abs·1/2 td·181s ctrl·3 sub att

View full fight log →

Strickland—Recent Fights

OpponentMethodRndDate

Anthony HernandezVeteranTITLE

KO/TKO · R3 · 2:23 · Feb '26

110 SS (46%)·55 abs·18s ctrl·1 kd

Dricus Du PlessisVeteranTITLE

U-DEC · R5 · Feb '25

128 SS (49%)·147 abs·1 td taken

Paulo CostaTITLE

S-DEC · R5 · Jun '24

182 SS (45%)·158 abs

Dricus Du PlessisTITLE

S-DEC · R5 · Jan '24

173 SS (42%)·137 abs·6 td taken

Israel AdesanyaVeteranTITLE

U-DEC · R5 · Sep '23

137 SS (53%)·94 abs·14s ctrl·1 kd

Abus MagomedovTITLE

KO/TKO · R2 · 4:20 · Jul '23

81 SS (43%)·47 abs·1 td taken·10s ctrl·1 kd

View full fight log →

Common Opponents

Kamaru UsmanSplit result

Chimaev

Dec·R3·2023

Strickland

UD·R3·2017

Dricus Du PlessisSplit result

Chimaev

UD·R5·2025

Strickland

UD·R5·2025