The Bigger Picture | UFC 328

While the first round featured the standard Chimaev grappling attacked, Strickland defended exceptionally well, never getting rattled while simply focusing on staying out of danger and working free when he could. From there, everything got turned on its head, as the challenger stuffed the next two takedown attempts by the menacing champion and spent the majority of the second being the one controlling the action from top position, which made it seem like we’d entered Bizarro World. But it continued the rest of the way home, too.

Chimaev found a second wind, but opted to stand and trade, landing the more significant individual blows while frequently being the one pressing the action, as Strickland maintained his standard approach of working behind a quick jab and high output. As much as Chimaev mixed in the odd takedown attempt here and there over the final couple of rounds, he wasn’t anywhere near as successful at keeping Strickland pinned to the canvas or stuck in unenviable positions, resulting in the verdict being decided on the feet and two of the three officials seeing it in favor of the former and now two-time middleweight champion.

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Strickland’s efforts in the first were precisely what anyone giving him a chance to win this fight argued he needed to do, including Sean Madden and me in our Coach Conversation breaking down the fight. But no one anticipated it working so well initially that Chimaev would immediately be taxed and forced to change his approach. Nor did I think that he would run as level with Strickland the rest of the way if things played out the way they did.

I genuinely wonder how much the extended time off and Chimaev bulking up with an eye towards light heavyweight impacted his performance, as well as the mental warfare Strickland waged from the minute this fight was announced. Both of those things can take a massive toll on an athlete, and when Strickland forced the champion to work hard in the opening round, the energy reserves just weren’t there for Chimaev the rest of the way, not like they were when he systematically and effortlessly broke down Dricus Du Plessis last year.

Because of the tensions in the main event, this fight felt like it was flying under the radar a little all week, but it delivered in spades and feels like the first leg in a longstanding rivalry that will stand as the central struggle within the division going forward. Van is 24, Taira is 26, and while there are definitely others in the mix, these two seem poised to face each other multiple times over the next decade, with the UFC title likely hanging in the balance another time or two.

WATCH: Josh Van Post-Fight Interview

Taira showed tremendous grit and tenacity by navigating a third round where most other would have been put away, while also having some areas where he can improve. Van displayed his poise and focus, sticking to the game plan and not getting too hurried when he spent nearly the first two rounds defending takedowns and trying to work back to his feet.

Alexandre Pantoja is likely next for Van — the former champ certainly merits a rematch given the impressiveness of his reign and the way things ended the first time they fought — while Taira should take a slight step back to reset as others continue to make their cases for contention. The division has never been in a better position, both in the moment and looking ahead, and these two standouts are likely to remain at the vanguard of the division — skilled and respected rivals, destined to battle multiple times.

How About Jim F’n Miller?!

The longest tenured fighter on the UFC roster, Jim Miller, has made it his mission to get to 30 UFC wins and 50 UFC appearances before finally hanging up his gloves and calling it a day. If he hadn’t spent the previous year on the sidelines, Saturday’s appearance at UFC 328 could have possibly been Fight No. 49 instead of No. 47, but then this weekend’s victory probably wouldn’t have been as sweet as it was either.

A big part of the reason for Miller’s extended stay outside of the Octagon was that his eldest son Wyatt was battling a rare and dangerous childhood cancer last year, and although the veteran lightweight was dealing with his own injury issues, focusing on Wyatt’s care and health gave him the impetus to take a little longer than normal getting back into action. Last month, Wyatt was declared cancer-free, and on Saturday night, Miller moved another step closer to those twin milestones he’d like to reach.

WATCH: Miller Post-Fight Interview

As soon as Jared Gordon changed levels and shot for a takedown in the middle of the opening round, you knew it was risky, as Miller immediately snatched up a guillotine choke. When he adjusted to move into full guard, things got worse for Gordon, and as Miller continued to shift his hips and move closer to rolling into mount, the pressure became too much, and Gordon was forced to tap.

The man with the most appearances and wins in UFC history added one more to each record, while also picking up his sixth career Performance of the Night bonus and his 18th finish in the lightweight division, which is another record. But most importantly, he got to do it in front of his four kids — Amelia, Wyatt, Cassidy, and Sawyer — his wife, his extended family, and countless others who know how difficult last year was for the entire Miller clan.

Congrats Jim, and congrats Wyatt; being a hard-nosed fighter clearly runs in the family.

Quick Hitters

Alexander Volkov made sure to keep himself in the thick of the chase in the heavyweight division on Saturday night by out-hustling Waldo Cortes Acosta over three rounds, but he also still feels like the odd man out. Volkov is technical and skilled, and has won six of his last seven while only losing to Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane in the last handful of years, however, you get the sense that a strong showing by Josh Hokit at UFC Freedom 250 could catapult the human lightning rod into the mix, potentially at the expense of the more reserved Russian who continues to quietly thrive.