MMA & Boxing — May 13, 2026
Sean Strickland pulled off another stunning upset at UFC 328 this past weekend, defeating Khamzat Chimaev by split decision to reclaim the UFC middleweight title in Newark, New Jersey. Looking ahead, Netflix is hosting a major MMA event on May 16 featuring Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano and Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry, while the boxing world is buzzing over the upcoming Fury vs. Joshua mega-fight.
MMA & Boxing — May 13, 2026
Fight Results
UFC 328 — Sean Strickland vs. Khamzat Chimaev (May 9, 2026 | Newark, NJ)
Sean Strickland is once again the UFC middleweight champion. In one of the biggest upsets of the year, Strickland defeated heavily favored Khamzat Chimaev by split decision to reclaim the title he previously lost.
ESPN's fight grade breakdown noted the full card produced seven finishes, though the main event itself "left a lot to be desired" according to graders — only one bout on the card earned an A grade.
Forbes confirmed Strickland won via split decision, with full bonus winners distributed after the event.
Analysis
Strickland's Second Title Reign: What It Means
Strickland's victory over Chimaev is the rare repeat miracle — he already shocked the world once by defeating Israel Adesanya for the middleweight belt, and now he's done it again against the dominant Chimaev. What makes this win particularly remarkable is that Chimaev entered as a massive favorite, having seized the belt and defended it against top competition.
The split decision nature of the victory will inevitably fuel calls for an immediate rematch. Chimaev's wrestling-based pressure game was reportedly neutralized in part by Strickland's relentless forward pressure and output on the feet — a strategy that frustrated judges just enough to tip the scales.
The bigger narrative heading out of UFC 328 is what the middleweight division looks like now. Strickland as champion again creates familiar matchup possibilities, but Chimaev's path back to the belt figures to be the division's primary story heading into the second half of 2026.
Coming Up
Netflix MMA Event — May 16, 2026
The most unique fight card on the immediate horizon is streaming live on Netflix. The card features:
- Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano (main event)
- Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry
Full card details have been confirmed via Netflix Tudum.
UFC Schedule — Upcoming Events
The UFC calendar continues to fill out with major fights confirmed through the rest of 2026, including a headline lightweight title bout at UFC at the White House on June 14 — Ilia Topuria (c) vs. Justin Gaethje.
Boxing — Fury vs. Joshua Mega-Fight Confirmed
On the boxing side, the most anticipated British heavyweight showdown in history is officially "signed, sealed and delivered" for 2026. Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua is set, with Joshua needing to first clear one final hurdle against Kristian Prenga on July 25 before the mega-fight takes place.
In other major boxing news, Oleksandr Usyk is returning to action in May to face heavyweight kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven. The full 2026 boxing schedule including Usyk vs. Verhoeven and the confirmed Mayweather vs. Pacquiao bout can be tracked via BBC Sport and Sky Sports.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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