"Sean Strickland has won the Ultimate Fighting Championship's 185-pound championship for the second time in his career, defeating Khamzat Chimaev via split decision in a bout that never rose to the level of vitriol and threats of violence outside the cage that both fighters engaged in in advance of the main event of UFC 328. Strickland won two scorecards 48-47, while Chimaev took the third scorecard at 48-47 in front of a crowd of 17,783 fans at the Prudential Center on Saturday."
"UFC beefed up security at hotels, public events, and around the cage for the fight following one of the more loathsome displays specifically, from Strickland of trash talk in recent fight history. Strickland threatened to shoot Chimaev and labelled him a terrorist because of 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 United Arab Emirates banner. He had countered by saying he would take off Strickland's head."
"The fighters tapped gloves to start the fight to prove they were professionals, and the prefight hostilities never spilled over into the cage. The 35-year-old Strickland, who won the 185-pound (84kg) belt in September 2023 and lost it in his first title defence, apologised after the fight to fans of all ethnicities and acknowledged he went too hard in weaponising stereotypes to sell the fight."
Sean Strickland won the UFC 185-pound championship for a second time, defeating Khamzat Chimaev by split decision. Two judges scored the fight 48-47 for Strickland, while one judge scored it 48-47 for Chimaev. The bout took place in front of 17,783 fans at the Prudential Center. Neither fighter appeared in serious danger during the contest, and Strickland mimed putting the belt around his waist after the fifth round. UFC increased security at hotels, public events, and around the cage due to prior violent and hateful trash talk. Strickland later apologized to fans of all ethnicities for weaponising stereotypes to sell the fight.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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