Tom Aspinall finds it hard to pick against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328.
Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) defends his middleweight title against Sean Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) in Saturday’s main event (Paramount+) at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Advertisement
Chimaev is a big favorite going into the fight, and UFC heavyweight champion Aspinall doesn’t see Strickland being able to stop his ground attack – despite Strickland having prevented any submission attempts throughout his UFC career.
“I think Khamzat, to me, looks pretty unstoppable at the moment with his takedowns and stuff,” Aspinall said on his YouTube channel. “His striking, obviously, he’s really dangerous with his striking, as well. I think Sean Strickland probably has a little bit of an edge in the striking department, but Khamzat’s grappling, I don’t know if Sean Strickland will be able to get up off the bottom enough times. That being said, I know Sean’s coach. I’ve actually trained with Sean a little bit, as well – only a tiny bit, though. But I know a lot of people who are close to him and everyone keeps saying how good he is at getting up off the bottom.
“So I think it’s going to be real interesting. That’s the big question for me is like, how many times can he get up off the bottom without getting caught in a submission, without getting tired? Khamzat will just rinse and repeat for the full five rounds, like in his last fight against (Dricus du Plessis). … If Strickland can come through that, not be exhausted – which, he’s never shown any signs of that before, in my opinion – and put him on the end of that awkward style that he’s got with striking and really unorthodox standup, I think there’s definitely a chance for Strickland. But in my opinion, I’m leaning a little bit toward Khamzat.”
Chimaev made easy work of Dricus Du Plessis, who defeated Strickland twice. However, Aspinall sees Strickland showing more resistance than Du Plessis.
Advertisement
“The verdict is, for me, Khamzat by decision, I think,” Aspinall said. “I think it will be a little more competitive than the DDP fight, but I think Khamzat by decision.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Tom Aspinall: Chimaev ‘looks pretty unstoppable,’ beats Strickland
