‘Strickland Still Sucks’: Pros React to Sean Strickland’s Close UFC 328 Win Over Khamzat Chimaev

The Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., was the scene of one of the most divisive, controversial, and ultimately defining moments of the 2024 UFC calendar. On Saturday night, Sean Strickland didn’t just win a fight; he reclaimed the UFC middleweight championship. He did it by handing the previously undefeated Khamzat Chimaev his first professional loss in a razor-thin, five-round war that left the MMA world split down the middle. The final scorecards read 48-47, 47-48, and 48-47 in favor of Strickland, a verdict that had the arena buzzing and social media erupting. But if you were scrolling through X (formerly Twitter) during the post-fight analysis, you might have seen a surprising trend: a chorus of pros, including former champions and top contenders, offering a backhanded compliment that summed up the night perfectly. “Strickland still sucks,” they joked, “but he just beat Khamzat Chimaev.”

The sentiment is a perfect encapsulation of Sean Strickland’s career. The loudmouth, the conspiracy theorist, the fighter who swears he’s just a “blue-collar brawler” — he is the most unlikely champion in modern MMA history. Yet, after a performance that mixed sheer grit, defensive wizardry, and a game plan that made the boogeyman of the division look human, Strickland silenced the doubters for at least one more night. Let’s break down the fight, the reaction, and what this means for the middleweight division.

The Fight: A War of Inches and a Question of Scoring

From the opening bell, the fight was a stylistic nightmare for both men. Chimaev, known for his relentless pressure, suffocating wrestling, and raw power, found a surprisingly stubborn opponent. Strickland’s jab — the same weapon that dismantled Israel Adesanya — was the story of the first two rounds. He landed it with surgical precision, snapping Chimaev’s head back every time the Chechen-born Swede tried to close the distance. Chimaev’s face swelled, a testament to Strickland’s volume.

But the middle rounds belonged to Chimaev. In the third and fourth stanzas, the Russian fighter finally got his hands on Strickland. He dragged the champion to the canvas, landing heavy ground-and-pound and locking in a deep guillotine choke that had the crowd holding its breath. Strickland, however, showed a survival instinct that has become his trademark. He didn’t panic. He worked his way to the fence, used his legs to create frames, and survived the storm. Chimaev’s takedowns were powerful, but he couldn’t finish the fight.

The fifth round was the decider. Both men were exhausted. Chimaev’s gas tank, a known question mark, was on empty. Strickland, despite being a notoriously slow starter, was still throwing that jab. The round was a tactical chess match on the feet, with Strickland landing the cleaner, more consistent strikes. When the final horn sounded, the judges had a nightmare on their hands. Two saw it for Strickland. One for Chimaev.

UFC CEO Dana White was unequivocal in the post-fight press conference. “I had it 48-47 Strickland,” White said. “He won the first two, lost the third and fourth, and clearly won the fifth. That’s a title fight. That’s a champion’s heart.” The official result was an upset, but in the cage, it felt like a coronation of a new kind of king: one who wins ugly, but wins nonetheless.

‘Strickland Still Sucks’: The Pros React on Social Media

The reaction from the MMA community was a masterclass in cognitive dissonance. Everyone respects Strickland’s toughness, but nobody seems to respect his style. The jokes write themselves. Here is a roundup of the best and most telling reactions from fighters and analysts:

• Dricus du Plessis (Current No. 1 contender): “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Strickland won. He’s a weirdo, but he’s a winning weirdo. Chimaev looked human. I’m going to beat both of them.”
• Israel Adesanya (Former champion): “Strickland still sucks at fighting. But he’s the best at being a punching bag that doesn’t break. Respect. He beat the boogeyman.”
• Colby Covington: “That jab is a cheat code. I’ve been saying it for years. Strickland is the worst champion we’ve ever had, but he’s also the most durable.”
• Michael Bisping (Analyst): “The most controversial decision of the year. I had Chimaev winning 3-2. But you cannot deny Strickland’s will. He took Chimaev’s best shots and kept coming.”
• Jorge Masvidal: “That fight was a draw in my book. But if you’re a champion, you have to finish. Chimaev didn’t. Strickland didn’t. This division is a mess. But Sean got the W.”
• An anonymous UFC middleweight (via text to ESPN): “He’s the worst guy to train with. He talks nonstop. But he just beat the guy we all were scared of. I hate that I have to respect him.”

The recurring theme is clear: Strickland is not a technical virtuoso. He is not a knockout artist. He is a grinder who uses an impossibly high fight IQ, a concrete chin, and a jab that feels like a sledgehammer. The pros know that. They hate that it works. The phrase “Strickland still sucks” has become a meme of respect — a way of saying, “I don’t like his game, but I can’t argue with the results.”

Expert Analysis: How Strickland Cracked the Chimaev Code

For years, the MMA world wondered what would happen when someone stood up to Chimaev’s bully-ball tactics. Strickland provided the blueprint. It was not pretty, but it was effective. Here is the technical breakdown of why Strickland won:

1. The Jab as a Fence: Strickland’s jab is not just a punch; it is a defensive tool. He uses it to measure distance, to blind his opponent, and to disrupt the timing of takedown entries. Against Chimaev, who relies on explosive level changes, the jab was a constant interruption. Every time Chimaev dipped his hips to shoot, he ate a stiff left hand. This forced him to shoot from further out, making his takedowns easier to stuff.

2. The Shell Defense: Strickland’s high-guard, philly shell style is often criticized as passive. But against a power puncher like Chimaev, it was perfect. Strickland kept his chin tucked, his hands high, and his elbows tight. He absorbed body shots and hooks on his forearms, never giving Chimaev a clean angle to land the knockout blow. Chimaev’s power, so devastating against lesser opponents, was neutralized by Strickland’s turtle-like defense.

3. Cardio and Pace: Chimaev’s wrestling is world-class, but it is explosive and exhausting. Strickland forced him to grapple for four minutes of every round. By the fifth, Chimaev was breathing heavily through his mouth, his takedowns were slow, and his punches had no snap. Strickland, meanwhile, was still moving his head, still throwing that jab. Conditioning won this fight.

4. The Mental Game: Strickland famously talked about wanting to “go to war.” He did. He took Chimaev’s best shots, survived a guillotine that would have tapped 99% of the division, and smiled. That psychological victory was massive. Chimaev, for the first time, looked frustrated. He looked human.

The takeaway for the division is stark: Strickland is not a fluke. He is a stylistic nightmare for any wrestler who relies on power and pressure. He is a nightmare for anyone who can’t fight going backward for 25 minutes.

What’s Next? The Middleweight Division is a Traffic Jam

With Strickland as champion, the middleweight division is suddenly the most interesting in the UFC. The immediate future is a tangled mess of contenders, rematches, and fresh blood. Here is the forecast:

Immediate Rematch? Chimaev is already calling for a rematch. Dana White, in the press conference, hinted that a rematch is “very possible.” Chimaev’s marketability and star power are too big to ignore. However, Strickland has made it clear he wants to fight Dricus du Plessis, the South African powerhouse who has been waiting for his shot. The UFC has a decision to make: run back the controversial fight, or give the No. 1 contender his chance.

The Du Plessis Threat: If Strickland faces du Plessis, it is a fascinating matchup. Du Plessis is a strong wrestler, but he is also a wild striker with knockout power. He is not as technically refined as Chimaev in the grappling department, but he is bigger and more durable. This fight would be a slugfest. I predict Strickland wins by decision again, but it will be even closer.

The Chimaev Future: If Chimaev gets the rematch, he will need to adjust. He cannot rely on a single takedown attempt per round. He needs to set up his shots with kicks and feints. He needs to invest in body work early to slow Strickland’s jab. If he makes those adjustments, he wins the rematch by TKO in the third round. If he doesn’t, Strickland jabs his way to another win.

Dark Horse: Khamzat vs. Adesanya? If the UFC wants a money fight, they book Chimaev against Israel Adesanya. That is a superfight that sells pay-per-views. Strickland, meanwhile, can fight du Plessis for the belt. That scenario leaves Strickland as the underdog champion, exactly where he thrives.

Conclusion: The Unlikeliest Champion Reigns

Sean Strickland is not the champion the UFC wanted. He is not the champion that pundits predicted. He is not a highlight reel. He is a knuckle-dragger with a PhD in pain management. He is the guy who says the quiet part out loud, who trains like a madman, and who now holds wins over Israel Adesanya and Khamzat Chimaev — two of the most feared fighters of the last decade.

The pros can joke all they want. They can say “Strickland still sucks.” But the scorecard doesn’t lie. The belt doesn’t lie. Sean Strickland is the king of the middleweights, and he got there by being the most durable, the most stubborn, and the most mentally tough man in the room. The division is now his playground. Whether you love him or hate him, you have to watch him. And that, in the fight game, is the only thing that matters.

The next chapter of this bizarre, beautiful story is already being written. Buckle up. Strickland isn’t going anywhere.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.