Sean Strickland upset Khamzat Chimaev to win by split decision and take the middleweight title at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey.
After surviving the first round on the ground, American Strickland fought back to claim a gritty victory. Two judges scored it 48-47 in his favour and one opted for Chimaev by the same scoreline.
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Victory makes Strickland, 35, a two-time UFC middleweight champion and delivers the first defeat of Russian-Emirati Chimaev’s 16-fight professional career.
Build-up to the contest had been marred by a series of derogatory and racist comments from Strickland, but the pair appeared to reconcile as Chimaev wrapped the belt around the American’s waist in a show of respect.
“I want to apologise to my American fans, Christian fans and Muslim fans. I went too hard, I admit it,” said Strickland.
“I respect all you guys. I should be a better example but I try and sell these fights.”
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An unsavoury build-up involved both fighters engaging in a bitter verbal back-and-forth.
Strickland had been the antagonist, launching comments towards Chimaev which attacked his religion and heritage.
In response, Chimaev goaded Strickland with comments about childhood trauma which the American has spoken about in the past.
The UFC hired extra security to protect each fighter during fight week and this was on display as rows of officers separated the pair as they waited for the opening bell to ring in the octagon.
Despite the animosity, both fighters touched gloves in a sign of respect before the contest, before Chimaev secured a signature early takedown.
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Just as he did in defeating Dricus du Plessis for the title in August, Chimaev controlled the action on the ground, but Strickland found success in defending takedowns in the second round.
Fighters have struggled to keep fights with Chimaev on the feet, but Strickland’s takedown defence forced him to strike, which is where the American excels.
As Chimaev pushed forward, Strickland edged the contest by using his jab consistently from the back foot to keep his nose in front on the scorecards.
With both fighters sporting bloodied faces, Strickland continued to defy takedowns in the last round before raising his arm at the final bell, confident he had done enough to convince the judges of victory.
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“He would not go back. I hit him with everything but he keeps coming forward. Crazy,” said Strickland.
“He may have broken my nose, but I love my fans, I would not be here today without you guys.”
The respect between the pair during and after the bout suggests the bitter build-up may been in the name of building hype around the contest, but it raises serious questions over whether promoting fights via deeply personal and offensive comments crosses a line.
UFC president Dana White described it as a “top-three” heated rivalry of all time and has said previously fighters would not be punished for offensive comments because he is a supporter of “free speech”.
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Strickland has a history of racist, homophobic and misogynistic comments, and his platform as a champion shines a brighter spotlight on his actions, but it is unlikely the UFC will take disciplinary action.
The co-headline bout featured Burmese-American flyweight Joshua Van stopping Japan’s Tatsuro Taira in the fifth round to retain his flyweight title.
Taira, 26, had success with his takedowns in the early rounds, but Van took control midway through before finding the finish with a flurry of punches to the body and face.
Victory marked 24-year-old Van’s first championship defence in the first title fight to take place between two Asian men in UFC history.
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After the win, Van called out former flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja for a rematch after taking the title off him in December when the Brazilian injured his arm in the first round.
