Rogan Questions Chimaev’s Wrestling Edge Before UFC 328 Title Defense Against Strickland

Overview

• Joe Rogan said Sean Strickland is hard to take down or hold down and pointed to Khamzat Chimaev’s more vulnerable showings against Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman.
• Reported metrics list Strickland with 76% takedown defense and Chimaev with 55% takedown accuracy, including a 4-for-12 conversion against Usman on short notice.
• Khamzat Chimaev acknowledged Olympic champions could beat him in a wrestling match and stressed that MMA and wrestling are different sports.
• Chimaev has signed with Real American Freestyle, a wrestling promotion featuring MMA names, though his debut opponent and date have not been announced.
• The UFC scaled back pre-fight interactions by canceling a face-off over rising tensions, even as commentator Jon Anik said he welcomes some friction before the May 9 main event in Newark.