Sportsmanship prevails: Strickland apologetic, respectful after UFC 328

To the surprise of many, including UFC president Dana White, middleweight rivals Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev embraced in a moment of sportsmanship in the immediate aftermath of their back-and-forth 25-minute title fight at UFC 328. 

The pair of popular-yet-polarizing pugilists exchanged insults and threats online and in person in the months, weeks and days leading up to their anticipated clash, and Chimaev even kicked Strickland two days before the event at a press conference.

But unlike when Khabib Nurmagomedov and his team attacked Conor McGregor and his team following their UFC 229 lightweight championship grudge match in 2018, or when Nick Diaz and Joe Riggs brawled in the hospital after already fighting for three rounds in the cage in 2006, Strickland and Chimaev buried the hatchet.

Once Strickland’s name was read aloud by UFC in-cage announcer Bruce Buffer following a split-decision result, the men who used to train together on occasion before their heated rivalry shook hands and embraced.

Chimaev kissed Strickland on the forehead, their respective teams exchanged pleasantries, and Chimaev even wrapped the belt around Strickland, who is now a two-time UFC middleweight champion.

“What an awesome display of sportsmanship by Khamzat to put that belt around your waist,” Joe Rogan said to Strickland before their post-fight interview.

White was asked about Strickland’s and Chimaev’s post-fight conduct, which was the opposite of what fight fans had witnessed all week leading up to UFC 328.

“I was ready for the exact opposite,” White told reporters after the event in Newark, N.J.

At one point during the height of his stardom, McGregor notoriously yelled into the microphone after one of his victories that he wanted “to apologize…to absolutely nobody!” for the way he had been conducting himself.

Strickland, on the other hand, was apologetic for some of the comments he made about Chimaev and some members of his fan base.

“I just want to apologize to my American fans, to my Muslim fans and my Christian fans,” Strickland said after he was crowned champion a second time. “I went too (expletive) hard. I’ll admit it. I respect all you guys. Chechnya (where Chimaev is from) has great fighters. They’re savage. He’s a (expletive) savage.

“I should be a better (expletive) example but I try to sell these fights for you (expletives). I appreciate you.”

The 35-year-old from California did later clarify that all the contentiousness between he and Chimaev, 32, was real and not manufactured in the moment as it was happening.

After the fight, however, was different.

“When you go and fight another man, your soul is just exposed,” Strickland said at his post-fight media availability. “When you’re (expletive) bleeding, and he’s bleeding, and like I want to quit, he wants to quit. We don’t want to be there. You just have this level of respect for one another that it like transcends race, religion, nationality, country. After, you kinda become someone’s brother after you and him try to die, win or lose.”

There have been 13 different men to wear the undisputed title in the UFC’s 185-pound division over the years, but Strickland became just the second two-time middleweight champion, joining his old rival Israel Adesanya.

Strickland first became a UFC champion in September 2023 when he upset Adesanya at UFC 293 in Australia. His first reign didn’t last long as he lost two decisions to Dricus Du Plessis, who couldn’t defend the title against Chimaev at UFC 319 last summer.

Wins over Paulo Costa and Anthony Hernandez put Strickland back in a position to fight for the title again and he took full advantage.

“That (expletive) would not go back,” Strickland said while complimenting Chimaev’s durability shown in absorbing 118 significant head strikes. “I’m hitting him with everything and he just keeps coming forward. Crazy.”

The final round of the match ultimately decided the winner. 

All three judges scored Round 1 for Chimaev, Rounds 2 and 3 for Strickland and had Chimaev evening things up after four. Two judges gave the fifth round to Strickland with one seeing it for Chimaev, who fell to 15-1 in mixed martial arts after suffering his first defeat.

Strickland improved to 18-7 in the UFC with the win. This was the ninth time Strickland, who leads all active UFC middleweight in average fight length, has gone the distance in a five-round fight since 2022. He is 6-3 in those contests.

Although the UFC 328 headliner and judges’ decision were extremely close, it does not appear an immediate rematch will be an option.

Chimaev, who previously competed in the UFC’s 170-pound division, informed White at the Prudential Center after the fight that he plans on now leaving the 185-pound division and moving up to the 205-pound weight class going forward.

The former champion did also send the new champ a “see you soon again” message on social media, so you never know what the future of the compelling middleweight division may hold.