Khabib Nurmagomedov’s advice to Khamzat Chimaev proved prophetic after UFC 328 defeat

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Khabib Nurmagomedov’s advice to Khamzat Chimaev proved prophetic after UFC 328 defeat

Originally posted on HITC | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated May 12, 2026 12:59 PM ET

Sean Strickland’s win in Newark proved Khabib Nurmagomedov right.

Khamzat Chimaev lost his middleweight title faster than most expected, dropping a decision to Strickland in the main event of UFC 328.

Chimaev came in as the favourite and started well, but Strickland quickly took control. By the end of five rounds, two judges saw it clearly for him, making him a two-time champion at 185 pounds.

Strickland held his ground after a strong first round from Chimaev and was able to keep up the pace for the rest of the fight.

Some fans thought Strickland looked flat by then. But by the final horn, it was clear he’d built enough momentum to take another decision win over Chimaev.

Khabib Nurmagomedov advised Khamzat Chimaev to rethink his approach well before UFC 328

Chimaev, who has made a name for himself with his aggressive starts and quick takedowns, managed one inside the opening 10 seconds in his bout with Dricus du Plessis. That fight saw him keep control for more than 20 minutes.

This time, he couldn’t maintain that control. Strickland handled the early pressure on the ground and then took over as the fight progressed.

Chimaev’s earlier battles against Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman followed a similar pattern, and according to Nurmagomedov, this trend finally caught up with him at UFC 328.

Speaking on a podcast with Adam Zubayraev nine months before the fight, Nurmagomedov said:

“I always had the same game plan. I was taking the fight to the ground. And I would attempt 100 takedowns if required. But you don’t see that in Khamzat’s fights.”

“He usually starts going full wrestling, and when it doesn’t work out, he starts striking with those guys while he is gassed.”

The aftermath of UFC 328 has seen questions raised about Chimaev’s conditioning team.

As ‘The Eagle’ pointed out long before fight night, Chimaev spent much of round one chasing top position but then appeared to tire quickly, opting to stand and trade strikes with Strickland for most of the remainder.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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