Strickland Edges Magomedov in Split Decision at UFC Middleweight Bout

Strickland Beats Magomedov, Not Hernandez, in July 1 UFC Middleweight Bout

Sean Strickland beat Abus Magomedov in the UFC's July 1, 2023 middleweight bout in Las Vegas. The five-round main event ended in a split decision: two judges scored it 49-46 for Strickland, the third saw it 48-47 for Magomedov.

Why the Card Carried Weight

The UFC had booked the fight as a headline on short notice after the original main event collapsed. Strickland, already notorious for press-conference trash talk and a volume-heavy striking style, needed a victory to stay in the contender picture following a knockout loss to Alex Pereira the previous October. Magomedov, a Dagestani southpaw with a flashy kicking game, had looked electric in his promotional debut but had never gone past the second round in the UFC. The matchup was framed as a test of Magomedov's cardio and Strickland's ability to handle unorthodox offense.

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How the First Two Rounds Unfolded

Magomedov opened with a spinning back kick to the body and a switch knee that snapped Strickland's head back. Strickland answered with his signature high guard and a steady jab, walking forward behind one-twos. Magomedov's kicking variety kept the American guessing, but Strickland's pressure began to tell near the end of the first round when he pinned Magomedov along the fence and landed short uppercuts. In the second Magomedov tried to reset with lateral movement, yet Strickland's jab started to land flush. A takedown attempt by Magomedov stalled out, and Strickland finished the round stalking forward, blood trickling from Magomedov's nose.

Mid-Fight Momentum Shift

The third stanza became the pivotal period. Magomedov's output dropped sharply, and Strickland doubled his jab, mixing in right hands over the top. A minute in, Strickland stunned Magomedov with a straight right, then flurried with hooks against the fence. Magomedov survived by clinching, but he absorbed a knee to the solar plexus that visibly sapped his speed. Strickland's corner sensed the shift and urged him to keep the pace suffocating. By the end of the round Magomedov's left eye had swollen, and his kicks lost their snap.

Championship Rounds and Closing Stretch

Strickland never let the Dagestani breathe. In the fourth he walked through a body kick to land a three-punch combo, then shot a double-leg that put Magomedov on his back for the first time in the fight. Magomedov scrambled up, but Strickland clinched and attacked the thighs with knees. The fifth looked much the same: Strickland advanced behind the jab, occasionally flirting with a head kick that kept Magomedov guessing. A late takedown attempt by Magomedov was stuffed, and Strickland finished the fight pounding the body with left hooks.

Scorecard Controversy in Context

Split decisions always spark debate, and this one was no exception. Media scores collected by MMA outlets ran roughly 70-30 in favor of Strickland. The crowd booed the lone dissenting scorecard, yet the consensus inside the arena felt clear: Strickland had taken at least three, probably four rounds.