Former UFC Champ Breaks Down Why Sean Strickland Could Shock Khamzat Chimaev

Dricus Du Plessis believes Strickland has a 'very good chance' against the middleweight champion.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 5:22am

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Former UFC champion Dricus Du Plessis believes Sean Strickland has a strong chance of defeating Khamzat Chimaev in their upcoming fight. Du Plessis says Strickland has the advantage in striking and is stronger than people think, giving him a real shot at the upset. Kamaru Usman also noted that Strickland's tricky, defensive style could create problems for Chimaev if he can't rely on his usual dominant wrestling approach.

Why it matters

This fight between Strickland and Chimaev is highly anticipated, with many experts and fighters weighing in on the potential outcome. If Strickland can pull off the upset, it would be a major shakeup in the middleweight division and further establish him as an elite contender.

The details

Dricus Du Plessis, a former UFC champion, believes Strickland has the advantage in striking over Chimaev and is stronger than many realize, giving him a 'very good chance' of winning the fight. Kamaru Usman also noted that Strickland's unorthodox, defensive style could pose problems for Chimaev if he can't rely on his dominant wrestling skills. The fight is expected to be a highly competitive matchup between two of the top middleweights in the UFC.

  • The fight between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev is scheduled for UFC 328.

The players

Sean Strickland

An American mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division of the UFC.

Khamzat Chimaev

A Swedish mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight and middleweight divisions of the UFC and is the current UFC middleweight champion.

Dricus Du Plessis

A South African mixed martial artist who is a former UFC champion.

Kamaru Usman

A Nigerian-American mixed martial artist who is the current UFC welterweight champion.

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What they’re saying

“In striking, Strickland definitely beats Khamzat, for sure. Khamzat is a problem when he has you on your back – we've seen that many times. Strickland is a lot stronger than people might think. I think he has a very good chance in that fight.”

— Dricus Du Plessis, Former UFC Champion

“Khamzat has that one tool he uses to dominate everybody, but when that doesn't work, you're forced to show your whole arsenal. Khamzat can strike, too. He stood with Gilbert Burns and dropped him a few times. If he changes that mentality and fights like a free mixed martial artist, we could really see his full arsenal.”

— Kamaru Usman, UFC Welterweight Champion

What’s next

The fight between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev is scheduled to take place at UFC 328.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated matchup between Strickland and Chimaev has experts and fighters divided, with some believing Strickland has a real chance to pull off the upset due to his striking advantage and underrated strength. The fight will be a true test of Chimaev's skills if he can't rely solely on his dominant wrestling approach.