UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has weighed in with his prediction for the highly anticipated main event of UFC 328, a middleweight title clash between champion Khamzat Chimaev and former champion Sean Strickland. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Aspinall broke down the matchup and gave his official pick for the fight scheduled for May 10 in Newark.
Aspinall highlighted Chimaev's dominant wrestling as a key factor in the bout. He described Chimaev's takedown ability as looking "quite unstoppable" and also noted the danger posed by his striking. According to Aspinall, while Strickland may hold a slight edge in the standup department, the critical question revolves around his ability to consistently get back to his feet after being taken down.
The heavyweight champion posed the central challenge for Strickland: "The big question is how many times he can get up without getting caught in a submission or getting tired?" Aspinall believes Chimaev will relentlessly pursue takedowns throughout the entire five-round championship fight, testing Strickland's cardio and defensive grappling to the limit.
Despite acknowledging Strickland's potential path to victory through his unorthodox and awkward striking style, Aspinall ultimately leans toward the champion. He stated that if Strickland can withstand the grappling pressure and impose his unique standup game, he certainly has a chance. However, Aspinall's final verdict favors Chimaev to retain his title.
"I'm going with Khamzat by decision," Aspinall declared. He anticipates a more competitive fight than Chimaev's previous title defense against Dricus du Plessis, but still sees the champion emerging victorious. The prediction adds another expert voice to the growing discussion around this pivotal middleweight championship contest.
The UFC 328 event, headlined by this Chimaev vs. Strickland title fight, is set to take place on the night of May 10 in Newark, New Jersey. Fans and analysts alike will be watching to see if Aspinall's forecast proves accurate.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.