Sean Strickland is once again UFC middleweight champion after defeating Khamzat Chimaev by split decision in an upset title fight at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
The bout was contested for the UFC middleweight title, with the judges siding narrowly with Strickland to hand him the belt back. Chimaev, nicknamed "The Wolf," came up short on the scorecards.
Strickland previously captured the same title by defeating Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in September 2023. That first reign lasted 132 days before he lost the championship to Dricus Du Plessis.
Earlier in his run, Strickland also owns a unanimous decision victory over Nassourdine Imavov in a short-notice light heavyweight main event at UFC Fight Night 217 in January 2023. Imavov is currently on a five-fight winning streak and has not lost since that defeat.
Post-fight, Strickland stated that he wants to fight the top contender and acknowledged Nassourdine Imavov as that contender.
