‘Strickland still sucks’: Pros react to Sean Strickland’s close UFC 328 win over Khamzat Chimaev

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MAY 09: Khamzat Chimaev of the United Arab Emirates, (L), punches Sean Strickland of the United States in a middleweight title bout during UFC 328 at the Prudential Center on May 09, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Strickland won over most of his peers with another outstanding performance at UFC 328.

The former UFC middleweight champion Strickland regained his belt with an upset of the previously undefeated Khazmat Chimaev at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Saturday night.

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The razor-thin fight was decided by the judges. Two of the three judges awarded the fight to Strickland. UFC CEO Dana White also said Strickland earned the decision in the post-fight press conference.

Check out how the pros reacted below:

Strickland still sucks

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) 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

I’m gonna put your lights out @SStricklandMMA

— Imavov Nassourdine (@imavov1) May 10, 2026

ISTRIQUI, YOU'RE A FUCKING LEGEND! 🔥#seanstrickland#ufc328pic.twitter.com/5bX4YUut6F

— Michel “Demolidor” Pereira (@UfcPereira) May 10, 2026

Im next

— Caio Borralho (@BorralhoCaio) May 10, 2026

Holy shit !!! Wow and new

— Sean O'Malley (@SugaSeanMMA) May 10, 2026

Weight cut must’ve been aweful

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) May 10, 2026

Sean Strickland and NEWWWW iight

— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) May 10, 2026

Hahahaha pic.twitter.com/yMzkqP12gt

— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) May 10, 2026

Strickland the king of the upsets 👏👏👏

— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) May 10, 2026

Wow that decision 🤷🏿‍♂️👊🏿

— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) May 10, 2026

I had Chimaev 3-2, wow! 🤯 Strickland did it! 👏

— Herbert Burns (@HerbertBurnsMMA) 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

Somebody lost a lot of money!

— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) May 10, 2026

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