Strickland vs Chimaev – UFC 328: Strickland downed Chimaev on a split decision | Mixed Stories of War

Sean Strickland has won the UFC 185-pound championship for the second time in his career, defeating Khamzat Chimaev via split decision in a fight that did not reach the level of vitriol and threats of violence outside the cage that both fighters made before the main event of UFC 328.

Strickland won two goals 48-47, while Chimaev took the third goal 48-47 in front of a crowd of 17,783 fans at the Prudential Center on Saturday.

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Strickland, the second former middleweight to reclaim the title, took the belt to his waist in the fifth round after ending a fight in which neither fighter appeared to be in serious danger. He was supported by his shiny new accessory as Chimaev treated him inside the cage.

The UFC beefed up security in hotels, public events, and around the ring following one of the most scandalous — specifically, from Strickland — trash talk in recent fight history. Strickland threatened to shoot Chimaev and called him a terrorist for his ties to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

Chimaev, who lost for the first time in 16 professional fights, is of Chechen ethnicity and fights under the flag of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He countered that he would “take off” Strickland’s head.

The fighters hit the gloves to start the fight to prove they were champions, and before the fight started the violence did not enter the cage.

The 35-year-old Strickland, who won the 185-pound (84 kg) belt in September 2023 and lost it in his first defense, apologized after the fight to fans from all over the world and admitted he “put a lot of effort” into using the armor to sell the fight.

The UFC held its final main card before the June 14 event at the White House where President Donald Trump performed.

The show — which UFC CEO Dana White called “a one-of-a-kind event” — is timed to celebrate Trump’s birthday and as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Trump, who often attends major UFC events, did not attend New Jersey.

Van also retains the flyweight title in the main event

Joshua Van upset Tatsuro Taira in a bloodbath in the main event and successfully defended his championship at 125 pounds (56.6 kg) in the first UFC title fight between two Asian fighters.

Van led the way with a masterful punch and won by stoppage at 1:32 of the fifth round, the crowd roaring in his first title defense since beating Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323.

Van (17-2) won in the second round with a violent right hand that prevented him from kneeling due to a knockdown, and repeatedly punched Taira (18-2) in the face. Van was unable to complete the round but continued to rip all the remaining bullets from his face and body, leaving Taira’s face and chest covered in blood.

Van and Taira marked the first time the UFC had a title fight with all competitors born in the 2000s.

Van, a 24-year-old from Myanmar, has won seven straight and 10 of 11 fights since signing with the UFC — and few were bigger than the UFC’s 11th stop in Newark.

Taira failed in his attempt to become the first Japanese fighter to become a UFC champion.

In other notable fights on the main card, Sean Brady defeated Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision; King Green choked Jeremy Stephens; and Alexander Volkov defeated Waldo Cortes-Acosta by unanimous decision.

Miller has won his first battle since battling childhood cancer

On the undercard, Jim Miller, 42, used his victory to add to his UFC fight record and career success by returning to the cage for the first time since his teenage son beat childhood cancer.

A native of New Jersey, Miller defeated Jared Gordon in a lightweight bout at UFC 328 by submission at 3:29 of the first round, with his family cheering him on from the Prudential Center. Miller extended his record with 28 wins in 47 fights under the UFC banner.

Miller also earned his 20th finish, the second most in UFC history.

Wyatt Miller, 14, was diagnosed with the disease last year rhabdomyosarcomaa rare form of cancer that begins as a growth of cells in soft tissue and is most common in childhood. Wyatt underwent two courses of chemotherapy and five weeks of proton radiation at Rutgers University Cancer Institute and was finally given a clean bill of health.

“My son has been through a lot the last few months,” Miller said inside the octagon.

“He is fine today, he does not have cancer.” One of the things I told him when he first met him was that, Millers have been called many names over the years, but fragile has never been one of them.

His son’s cancer scare kept Miller out of the cage for 13 months, a stretch for a fighter who is used to competing several times a year. Miller lost to Chase Hooper in his last fight at UFC 314 in April 2025.