Sean Strickland: How I am going to frustrate Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328

Sean Strickland believes he can get up if he is taken down by Khamzat Chimaev.

Strickland is scheduled to challenge Chimaev for the middleweight title in the main event at UFC 328 on May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. While Chimaev is known for his suffocating brand of wrestling, Strickland has elite takedown defense.

Fans and pundits are divided about how the UFC 328 headliner might play out. While some expect complete domination from Chimaev, who is the favorite, others believe Strickland might be the only answer to the undefeated Chechen-born champion.

Having trained together in the past, Strickland believes Chimaev knows that he can’t keep him on the ground for long. Strickland believes he can counter-wrestle Chimaev and get top control. Strickland predicts that “Borz” might even resort to a stand-up battle if he fails on multiple takedown attempts. If the fight stays on the feet, Strickland believes he will be able to have his way with the champion.

“I think a part of him knows that if we do wrestle, I’m just going to counter-wrestle,” Strickland said in an episode of UFC 328 “Countdown.”

“I’ll get up, I’ll get on top. Or complete opposite, he knows he can’t take me down, and then we just kickbox for five rounds. And if that happens, you’re going to see him getting frustrated, throw big punches, trying to hit me. And I’m just going to tag him at will.”

Strickland (30-7) lost his title and failed to regain it in a rematch against Dricus Du Plessis, whom Chimaev (15-0) dominantly dethroned last year. However, Strickland recently scored a dominant stoppage win over Anthony Hernandez, who is also known for his grappling.