Whether you agree with the decision in the UFC 328 main event or not, Strickland’s case for being the silver medalist at this juncture is strong regardless of the outcome, as he dominated “Fluffy” and showed Chimaev was human, while also finally showing a little of the wrestling skills we’ve always known he has, but rarely get to see.
Much like with Gaethje, what comes next for the middleweight champ is an interesting question with no clear answer, which should make for an interesting next couple of months in the 185-pound weight class.
3. Josh Hokit
When you go 3-0 and post a pair of top 15 wins, all while you’re still less than a year into your UFC journey, you’re going home from the Half-Year Awards with a medal around your neck.
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I say this every time I discuss Hokit: setting aside his personas, personality, and the things he chooses to say when there is a microphone in his vicinity, the 28-year-old heavyweight is a genuine top-end talent, and watching his rapid rise through the ranks has been impressive.
The Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9 grad started the year by beating Denzel Freeman at UFC 324, then ventured to Miami and turned in one of the best fights of the first half in a win over Curtis Blaydes before wrapping things up with a second-round finish of Derrick Lewis at the White House last month. The 28-year-old heavyweight is now 4-0 in the UFC and 10-0 as a pro, with only marquee assignments ahead of him.