Khamzat Chimaev draws fire as Jorge Masvidal questions UFC 328 title fight style
Newark, May 9, ET — khamzat chimaev is heading into UFC 328 with the spotlight fixed on both his title defense and the criticism around how he fights. Jorge Masvidal used a recent podcast appearance to blast the reigning UFC middleweight champion’s grappling-heavy approach, saying the style is more about control than damage. The fight against Sean Strickland is set for the UFC 328 main event in Newark, and the debate over khamzat chimaev is now part of the buildup.
Masvidal rejects the style, not the result
Masvidal made his comments on the Death Row MMA podcast while discussing Chimaev’s win over Dricus du Plessis, which earned him the 185-pound belt in August 2025. He pointed to the nearly 22 minutes of control time Chimaev posted in that one-sided unanimous decision and said the approach does not fit his definition of fighting. In Masvidal’s view, the issue is not whether Chimaev can wrestle well, but whether he is advancing, damaging opponents, and actually creating a fight. “You’re not advancing, you’re not causing damage, and all you’re doing is literally holding, ” Masvidal said.
Strickland’s challenge is the focus now
The middleweight title defense is scheduled for May 9 in Newark, and Masvidal believes Sean Strickland has the tools to test Chimaev in a way others have not. He said Strickland may be the first fighter to truly challenge Chimaev in that same grappling realm and suggested the champion will not be able to settle in comfortably if the fight goes to the mat. That view is part of what has made this matchup more than a simple title defense: it is being framed as a clash between relentless pressure and control-heavy dominance. For khamzat chimaev, the stakes are not just about keeping the belt, but about proving his style can answer a rising wave of criticism.
Dan Hardy sees a different edge for Strickland
Analyst Dan Hardy has added another layer to the conversation by highlighting Strickland’s lesser-known strengths ahead of UFC 328. Hardy said Strickland’s “dark arts” of MMA, built through extensive sparring with veterans and sharpened at Xtreme Couture, could be the difference in a high-stakes matchup. He described Strickland as a fighter who can read and react to opponents rather than simply overpower them, and he said that strategic edge could matter if Chimaev brings the intense pressure many expect. Hardy’s view gives the matchup a tactical edge that sits directly against the criticism aimed at khamzat chimaev.
What the buildup means now
Strickland earned the title shot after stopping Anthony Hernandez in the second round of their UFC Houston fight, a result that helped push him into this position at 185 pounds. Hernandez had been viewed as a serious threat, but Strickland’s forward pressure proved too much on that night. Now the discussion has shifted to whether that pressure, combined with his tactical awareness, can disrupt Chimaev’s control game. The answer will come on fight night in Newark, where khamzat chimaev faces both a championship defense and a growing argument over what his fighting style really means.
