UFC 328: Sean Strickland captures middleweight title with split decision win over Khamzat Chimaev

Sean Strickland is back on top.The American returned the middleweight championship to the U.S.with a split decision victory over previously unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev, 48-47, 47-48, 48-47, in the main event of UFC 328 at Prudential Center on Saturday night.A fight marked during fight week for its elevated security presence was preceded during introductions by roughly a dozen uniformed police and other personnel tasked with ensuring no shenanigans minutes before the fight torpedoed the sanctioned action.

Whether necessary or not, they were successful in that endeavor.Chimaev wasted little time going to his bread and butter, taking down Strickland (31-7, 16 finishes) within 20 seconds of the start.Within two minutes, he had secured the back of the challenger.

The round came to a half while Strickland fought off a rear-naked choke attack.Chimaev (15-1, 12 finishes), though, did not seek a takedown again until nearly two minutes elapsed in the second — and it ended with Strickland on top in a rare, but brief, opportunity to see the champion fight from his back.The action returned to the feet, but a sloppy shot for a takedown once again resulted in Strickland working from the top as the crowd broke out into a vociferous “U-S-A” chant for the Las Vegas-based challenger.Strickland opened up with his hands in the third as Chimaev followed his lead around the octagon.The Chechen did bust open Strickland’s nose as he found a home for his own offense of strikes with more intentions behind them than Strickland’s trademark jabs and teep kicks.The power-punching game remained in Chimaev’s favor during the fourth, though the Strickland jab work gave Chimaev a matching bloody nose.

Chimaev finally went back to the well for a successful takedown with a minute to go in the frame for what was his first attempt at one in 10 minutes.Clearly, the champ liked how that went because he shot quickly to start the final round to keep the fight out of Strickland’s preferred strik...