What exactly happened to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328?
That’s the question many fans — and even some of his own teammates — are still asking after the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion suffered the first loss of his professional career this past weekend (Sat., May 9, 2026), dropping a razor-close split decision to Sean Strickland inside Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The five-round title fight has become one of the most debated decisions of the year. Some fans
believe Chimaev’s heavier shots and grappling control did enough to secure the victory, while others argue Strickland’s volume and activity — especially late — stole the fight.
Either way, it was incredibly close.
For UFC Light Heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree, who helped Chimaev prepare during the latter half of camp in Newport Beach, Calif., the performance simply didn’t look like the fighter he trained with.
“I would say it was really hard to watch because I wasn’t watching the Khamzat I know,” Rountree said on the JAXXON Podcast. “It was hard for me to count every round and really analyze the fight because I was so shocked, like, ‘What’s wrong with Khamzat?’”
Rountree admitted he was emotionally invested in the fight and still scored it for Chimaev.
“The first round was great, the second round things took a huge turn,” Rountree continued. “Then after round three — after that round was done I remember checking off a box and giving that round to Khamzat, I’m biased. Round four, I was like okay, cool — we’re up three rounds going into five and then round five I blurred.
“So, all to say, I think he did enough to win the fight — rounds 1, 3 and 4,” he added. “I think if a rematch happens, things look completely different.”
Former UFC Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, who also trained with Chimaev during camp — and openly dislikes Strickland — agreed.
“Maybe that’s why he won,” Rockhold said when referencing Strickland’s massive underdog odds. “I think Khamzat won the fourth and fifth round. He controlled the pace of how that fight finished and that is what champions who deserve the championship do.”
Rockhold also questioned the scoring criteria and implied outside narratives may have influenced the decision.
“It doesn’t make sense,” Rockhold said. “The only thing that makes sense is that he was a +500 underdog and sometimes things gets sketchy. Maybe it was who they wanted to win.”
In the end, both fighters pointed to Chimaev’s brutal weight cut as a possible factor behind the uncharacteristic performance — and both believe a rematch would end very differently.
Time will tell.
