"Khamzat Chimaev makes his first title defense against former champion Sean Strickland tonight at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, in a fight with as much genuine bad blood as anything the UFC has produced in recent memory. The main event alone makes it must-watch television. There is also a flyweight title fight in the co-main event and a deep undercard with some seriously interesting matchups. The UFC brought in extra security for fight week, and Chimaev reportedly kicked Strickland at the pre-fight press conference."
"Chimaev comes in as a heavy favorite at -520 per DraftKings, with Strickland sitting at +390. The case for Chimaev at those odds is straightforward. He is 15-0 as a professional and has never been taken down in his MMA career, holding a 100% takedown defense rate. His most recent win was a unanimous decision over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 last August, where he landed 12 takedowns. His dominance inside the octagon has been unlike almost anything the sport has seen."
"That said, do not completely write off Strickland at +390. He has been in this position before. He shocked the world as a massive underdog against Israel Adesanya at UFC 293, knocking him down and taking the middleweight title. He has only been stopped twice in 37 professional fights and has never been submitted. He is durable, tough, and knows how to make fights ugly. His most recent win came by knockout over Anthony Hernandez in February, which reignited his title shot."
Khamzat Chimaev defends the UFC middleweight championship against former champion Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey. Chimaev enters as a heavy betting favorite at -520, while Strickland is listed at +390. The rivalry is marked by intense animosity, including reports of extra security for fight week and an alleged kick at a pre-fight press conference. Chimaev is undefeated at 15-0 and has never been taken down in his MMA career, with a 100% takedown defense rate. His latest win was a unanimous decision over Dricus du Plessis, featuring 12 takedowns. Strickland is durable, has been stopped only twice in 37 fights, has never been submitted, and previously upset Israel Adesanya to win the title. The card also includes a flyweight title fight and a deep undercard.
Read at Bleacher Nation
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