Khamzat Chimaev has raised concerns about the impact of his nationality on the judges' scoring during his first UFC defeat at UFC 328, where he lost to Sean Strickland by split decision on May 9, 2023. The match, held in Newark, sparked significant debate among fans and analysts regarding the fairness of the judges' decision. Chimaev, speaking through a translator in a post-fight interview, suggested that being a Chechen fighter in an American organization played a role in the outcome. His corner, which included Arman Tsarukyan, echoed these sentiments, stating that Chimaev was robbed, as evidenced by the fact that 13 out of 24 media members who scored the fight favored Chimaev. Despite some fans accusing him of making excuses, Chimaev stood firm in his belief that the judges' backgrounds influenced their scoring. He later expressed his frustration on social media, questioning the impartiality of the judges, all of whom were American. Tsarukyan acknowledged that while Chimaev could have performed better, he still believed Chimaev deserved the win based on his performance in the fight.