Yes. Sean Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, to become a two-time UFC Middleweight Champion. Two judges scored the bout 48-47 for Strickland; the third had it 48-47 for Chimaev. It was the first loss of Chimaev’s professional career.

The Context

Strickland first won the middleweight title in September 2023, upsetting Israel Adesanya in a decision that few saw coming. He lost the belt to Dricus du Plessis in January 2024 in another split decision, a result that remained disputed in the middleweight conversation for much of the year that followed. Chimaev took the title from du Plessis and entered UFC 328 as its first defense, unbeaten across his entire UFC run, widely considered among the most physically dominant fighters in the organization.