Strickland reveals he fought Khamzat Chimaev with shoulder injury in massive UFC 328 upset win

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Sean Strickland left everything in the octagon at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday night, upsetting Khamzat Chimaev to be named UFC middleweight champion once again for his career.

Chimaev, who had never lost a UFC fight in his 16-bout career, was a convincing favorite heading into this co-main event for UFC 328, but Strickland was named victor by split decision after five hard-fought rounds, where he revealed he wasn’t even at full health.

After having the belt put around his waist by Chimaev, Strickland said that he injured his shoulder sparring earlier in the week.

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Sean Strickland reacts after a split-decision victory against Khamzat Chimaev of Russia in the UFC middleweight championship fight during UFC 328 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on May 9, 2026. (Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)

"Funny story – on Tuesday, I’m sparring Johnny [Eblen], that motherf-----, PFL champ. I’m at Plinio Cruz’s gym. He shoots on me, and I hit his bricka—wall, and I separate my shoulder," Strickland told reporters during hisi post-fight press conference. "So, I had a grade one AC join separation on Tuesday. I remember lying in bed on Tuesday night, and I can’t lie on my right side. I’m like, ‘You’re such a f---ing idiot. You’re such a