Sean Strickland shocked the world Saturday, becoming the first man to defeat Khamzat Chimaev while winning the UFC middleweight championship for the second time.
Strickland was a +350 underdog and Chimaev a -470 favorite ahead of their main-event bout at UFC 328 in Newark. Here’s a taste of how the MMA world digested Strickland’s split-decision victory:
Holy shit !!! Wow and new
— Sean O’Malley (@SugaSeanMMA) May 10, 2026
Holy shit!!! Sean pulled it off. That was a coin flip fight, it came down to the wire and in the end, I believe it was Sean’s volume that won him the fight. There’s nothing controversial about the result, Sean earned it. #UFC328
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) May 10, 2026
whatever was decided, it was already before the match.
You can show the world anything, but you have to live this role to the fullest.
Big congrats to Sean, to show strength and handle this pressure.
On the other side, pure hate in pressconference and smile in the cage ?
No, we…
— Jiri BJP Prochazka (@jiri_bjp) May 10, 2026
I said that! 🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️ bad weight cut sucks! https://t.co/QDaRMOEJ2L
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) May 10, 2026
Hahahaha pic.twitter.com/yMzkqP12gt
— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) May 10, 2026
This wolf is a 🐩 poodle . Give me him asap
— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) May 10, 2026
What a performance by Strickland and an amazing fight. 48-47 Sean was the correct score. Had it tied going into the final round and Strickland did enough to pull off the final round 👏 #UFC328
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) May 10, 2026
Wow that decision 🤷🏿♂️👊🏿
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) May 10, 2026
Strickland the king of the upsets 👏👏👏
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) May 10, 2026
I’m gonna put your lights out @SStricklandMMA
— Imavov Nassourdine (@imavov1) May 10, 2026
WHAT CAN I SAY?!….. I KNOW BALL!!!!! Called the fight exactly how I expected except for Sean pressuring forward… AND NEW!!#andnew #ufc328 #iknowball
— Corey ‘Overtime’ Anderson (@CoreyA_MMA) May 10, 2026
Somebody lost a lot of money!
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) May 10, 2026
Strickland still sucks
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) May 10, 2026