The unlikely Sean Strickland is champion of the world once again, and that now makes two of the biggest upsets in modern UFC history. First, he shocked the world by dominating Israel Adesanya to win the middleweight title in 2023. On Saturday night at UFC 328, he did it again, reclaiming the belt in a razor-close split decision over the previously unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev.

But after watching the fight, I’m not convinced the judges got it right.

I scored the bout 48-47 for Chimaev. Strickland deserves credit for his takedown defense, sturdy jab, and durability. He forced Chimaev to work for every position and tested the champion over five hard rounds. But testing the champion and making him uncomfortable is not the same as winning a fight.

It always feels wrong for a champion to lose his title in this fashion. Strickland defended exceptionally well and had his moments, particularly in the second round, but he failed to impose his will and pour on enough volume to make this win undeniable.

Even as a shell of himself, Chimaev landed the more damaging strikes and had the more impactful moments, particularly in the third round, which I thought he clearly edged out. This reminded me of Chimaev’s fight with Kamaru Usman, often labeled a “robbery”, where many observers rewarded the optics of shifting momentum rather than what actually occured.

None of this is meant to diminish Strickland’s performance. He proved he is one of the toughest outs in the sport. But if the standard is that a challenger must clearly beat the champion to take the belt, I do not think Strickland met that threshold.

Many fans back Strickland nonetheless. “I thought he clearly got it done. Look at [Chimaev’s] face after the fight. That tells it all,” said senior Adrian Ligeska.

Regardless, the division moves along. Whether you like him or not, Strickland is now one of the most accomplished fighters in UFC history.