Whittaker Warns: Strickland Can't Beat Chimaev on the Ground — But There's Another Way
As UFC 328 approaches on May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has offered a sobering assessment of Sean Strickland’s chances against dominant titleholder Khamzat Chimaev. Speaking to Paramount+ in an interview published Tuesday, Whittaker dismissed the idea that Strickland’s well-known takedown defense will be enough to neutralize the undefeated champion.
“I don’t think the answer is going to be Strickland’s wrestling defense or jiu-jitsu,” Whittaker said. “I think Chimaev is just so solidly all in on that wrestling formula that’s worked for him so well since day dot that you can’t catch up.”
Instead, Whittaker — who was submitted by Chimaev in the first round of their 2024 bout — argues that Strickland must focus on creating “obstacles” that make Chimaev hesitant to shoot for takedowns in the first place. The key, he says, is not merely defending the grapple but discouraging the attempt entirely.
UFC 328, which airs exclusively on Paramount+, features one of the most personal grudge matches in recent memory. Chimaev makes the first defense of the middleweight belt he won by demolishing Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in September 2025. Strickland, the former champion, earned his shot by knocking out Anthony Hernandez at UFC Fight Night 267 in February.
The full broadcast team was confirmed Tuesday: Jon Anik handles play-by-play, with Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier as color commentators. Megan Olivi reports from the floor, while Kate Scott hosts pre- and post-fight coverage alongside Chris Weidman and Dustin Poirier.
The Strategic Puzzle: Why Deterrence Matters More Than Defense
Whittaker’s analysis stems from a painful firsthand lesson. When he faced Chimaev, the Swedish-born Chechen wrestler overwhelmed him with relentless pressure and secured a first-round submission. The former champion now believes that no amount of takedown defense training can bridge the gap in pure grappling ability against Chimaev.
“I saw Dricus take Strickland down heaps of times when they fought, and Chimaev’s a much better wrestler than Dricus,” Whittaker noted, referencing du Plessis’s two wins over Strickland, including their UFC 312 rematch that sent Strickland out of title contention.
Strickland’s unorthodox striking and defensive wrestling have frustrated many opponents, but none have attempted to submit him. Chimaev — with 14 professional wins, many by submission — will almost certainly try to change that. Whittaker’s prescription is tactical: Strickland must use strikes, feints, and cage positioning to make Chimaev pay for every wrestling entry.
Co-Main Event: Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira
Before the main event, flyweight champion Joshua Van makes his first title defense against Japanese contender Tatsuro Taira. Van captured the belt by dethroning longtime champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323 in 2025, capping a four-fight year that established him as a rising pound-for-pound talent.
Taira, meanwhile, has rebounded from a close decision loss to Brandon Royval in 2024 with two consecutive stoppage wins, including a TKO of former champion Brandon Moreno — the first knockout loss of Moreno’s career. Both fighters are young, hungry, and represent the future of the division.
What’s at Stake: Chimaev’s Reign and the Middleweight Landscape
A win for Chimaev solidifies his status as the sport’s most feared grappler and potentially opens the door to a super fight or a move to light heavyweight. For Strickland, victory would make him a two-time champion and deliver the biggest upset of 2026 — a redemption arc few predicted after his loss to du Plessis.
The bad blood between the two former training partners at Xtreme Couture adds emotional weight to a bout that already carries high technical stakes. Chimaev’s team has been warned not to jeopardize the fight with antics, but the tension is palpable.
Outside the octagon, the MMA world is buzzing about other blockbuster matchups. Max Holloway recently confirmed to Paramount+ that he is interested in fighting Conor McGregor at UFC 329 during International Fight Week in July. Holloway, coming off a loss to Charles Oliveira, sees the McGregor fight as a chance to avenge a 2013 defeat and reclaim momentum. “If somebody’s got one over me, I want to get him back,” Holloway said. No contract is signed yet, but the possibility looms.
Meanwhile, the broader trend across combat sports shows a growing reliance on wrestle-heavy game plans — a style Chimaev has perfected. Whittaker’s warning to Strickland reflects a larger truth: in modern MMA, the grappler often dictates the pace, and the striker must find creative ways to interrupt that rhythm.
For Strickland, the path to victory requires more than a strong sprawl. He must force Chimaev to rethink his approach entirely — a task easier said than done against a fighter who has never been made to look uncomfortable inside the octagon.
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