Turns out Sean Strickland
reclaimed the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight title while dealing with more than just Khamzat Chimaev.After defeating Chimaev via split decision in the UFC 328 main event last night (Sat., May 9, 2026) inside Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Strickland revealed during the post-fight press conference that he suffered a shoulder injury earlier in fight week.
“You wanna hear something funny?” Strickland asked reporters. “So on Tuesday, I’m sparring
Johnny Eblen — that motherf—ker, PFL champ. And I’m at Plinio Cruz’s gym [Alex Pereira’s coach], and he shoots on me, and I hit this brick wall and I separated my shoulder.”
“So I had a Grade 1 AC joint separation on Tuesday,” Strickland continued. “I remember lying in bed on Tuesday night, and I can’t lay on my left side, and I’m like, ‘You’re such a f—king idiot. You are such a f—king idiot.’”
The newly crowned champion admitted the injury even changed how he prepared backstage before the fight.
“So in the back I usually like to get better warmups, but I didn’t want to warm up and throw my shoulder out, so the entire time I was thinking I’m such a f—king moron.”
Fortunately for Strickland, the shoulder held up long enough for him to grind out a razor-close victory over Chimaev and reclaim the 185-pound crown.
It’s also not the first time Strickland has fought compromised. Ahead of his rematch against Dricus du Plessis, the outspoken veteran was already dealing with a serious shoulder issue, but chose not to withdraw from the bout.
Now riding a two-fight win streak and once again sitting atop the Middleweight division, Strickland says he plans to take some time off — especially because he believes he broke his nose again during the fight.
For complete UFC 328 results, coverage and highlights click HERE.
