Joe Rogan has sparked further discussion regarding Khamzat Chimaev’s upcoming title defense at UFC 328 against former champion Sean Strickland. While the matchup is already highly anticipated, Rogan has introduced a critical perspective: questioning the extent to which Chimaev’s dominant performances have been against opponents lacking a strong foundation in elite wrestling.
Joe Rogan’s View on Chimaev’s Competition
During his podcast, Rogan expressed his thoughts:
“Khamzat is handling guys that don’t have a big background in elite wrestling; they’re not elite wrestlers. The guy that he fought who was an elite grappler and gave him problems was Kamaru Usman. Usman took the fight on short notice at 185 lbs, and in the third round Kamaru was winning. That would have been a very interesting fight if it was a 5-round fight and if Kamaru had a full camp.”
Rogan’s central argument suggests that Chimaev has often been able to impose his fighting style on opponents who might be dangerous in other aspects of the game but do not possess top-tier wrestling skills. Chimaev’s success has largely been attributed to his ability to rapidly close distance, secure takedowns, establish control, and either inflict damage or threaten submissions. His fighting approach is deeply rooted in freestyle wrestling, a background supported by his achievements outside the UFC, including national titles in Sweden.
The specific bout Rogan referenced to support his claim was Chimaev’s majority decision win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in October 2023. Usman accepted this fight on approximately 10 days’ notice, stepping in for an injured fighter and competing at middleweight instead of his usual welterweight division. Although Chimaev won, the fight was not entirely one-sided, particularly in the latter stages.
While Chimaev maintained control for a significant portion of the fight and landed multiple takedowns, Usman demonstrated effectiveness on the feet during the third round. The judges’ scorecards reflected a closer contest than many of Chimaev’s earlier dominant performances in the UFC.
Rogan highlights this fight as an illustration. His perspective is that Usman, an experienced wrestler and former champion, was able to challenge Chimaev even under less-than-ideal circumstances (short notice and fighting at a heavier weight). Rogan implies that with a full training camp and a five-round format, the outcome could have been different.
This perspective does not diminish Chimaev’s accomplishments in the middleweight division. He remains undefeated, secured a first-round submission against Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, and subsequently won the middleweight championship. However, Rogan’s comments tap into an ongoing debate about Chimaev’s career: the question of whether his overwhelming early control remains as effective against opponents who possess strong wrestling defense and the ability to extend the fight.
The upcoming bout against Sean Strickland presents an intriguing next step, even though Strickland may not boast Usman’s wrestling pedigree. Strickland is a former champion known for his resilience, disciplined striking, and ability to wear opponents down over multiple rounds. Rogan’s recent remarks don’t alter Chimaev’s record, but they do underscore the central question for UFC 328: can Chimaev maintain his dominance against another top middleweight, or will this fight become another instance where an opponent’s resistance significantly alters the dynamic?
