Jimmy Robles
In the headliner of UFC 328, Sean Strickland entered as the underdog against UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev last Saturday. However, the opposing odds weren’t anything new to the native of Anaheim, California. After a dominant first round where Chimaev controlled Strickland on the ground, it seemed that the challenger was in for a long night.
Then Strickland (31-7) turned the tide in round two, as he stuffed several takedowns from the defending champion. Chimaev (15-1) suddenly looked vulnerable inside the octagon, with Strickland working the jab and landing straight right hands. After five hard-fought rounds, “Tarzan” earned a split decision win to become a two-time champion at 185 pounds and handed the Russian native his first defeat.
As Strickland enters his second reign as the middleweight kingpin, we look at who he could face in his first title defense.
Joe Pyfer
“Bodybagz” has compiled an impressive 7-1 record since his UFC debut in 2022. Only one of those wins has come by way of decision. Joe Pyfer hit a setback after a unanimous decision loss against Jack Hermansson in February 2024. Since then, he has been on a four-fight winning streak, with three Performance of the Night bonuses. The native of Vineland, New Jersey, is coming off the biggest win of his career.
In March, he defeated former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya by second-round TKO. As one of the top-rising contenders at 185 pounds, Pyfer is inching closer to a title shot.
Dricus Du Plessis
The native of Welkom, South Africa, previously reigned as the 185-pound kingpin from 2024 to 2025. In two defenses of the UFC middleweight title, Dricus Du Plessis held victories over Adesanya and Strickland (in a rematch for the title). However, last August, “Stillknocks” took a one-sided unanimous decision loss against Chimaev and was dethroned for the championship title.
While Du Plessis may need a bounce-back win to get back into title contention, he very much remains one of the biggest names in the division.
Khamzat Chimaev
While a rematch between Strickland and Chimaev is unlikely, they fought a very close and competitive contest. Given his competitive nature, it comes as a surprise that Chimaev may not opt to avenge his first professional defeat. The former UFC middleweight champion has been vocal about the difficulties in cutting weight at 185 pounds.
The native of the Chechen Republic, Russia, will likely eye a move up to light heavyweight. UFC boss Dana White also revealed that Chimaev told him after the fight that he no longer wanted to compete at middleweight. But money talks, and he could always be persuaded to take part in a rematch.
Nassourdine Imavov
“The Sniper” is currently on a five-fight winning streak and is likely the frontrunner for a title shot. Nassourdine Imamov scored a big upset TKO victory over Adesanya in February 2025. He followed up with a wide unanimous decision win against fellow top-contender Caio Borralho last September. It was the sole loss of the Brazilian native’s UFC career since his debut in 2022.
Imavov previously met Strickland in January 2023, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss. If they meet for a second time, can Imavov change the narrative with the championship title at stake?
