NEWARK, N.J. — Improbably, again, Sean Strickland is a champion. Less than three years after stunning the world to snatch UFC middleweight gold from one of MMA’s biggest stars, he did it again Saturday against an arguably more fearsome, more complete opponent.

Against Khamzat Chimaev, who earned his reputation as one of the most dominant current fighters with a 15-0 opening to his career, Strickland narrowly solved the puzzle that had vexed so many others. He stuffed takedowns, reversed grapples, put Chimaev on his back and wore down the champion on the feet with missile jabs, setting up the announcer Bruce Buffer to cap the night with a dramatic reading of the scorecards to crown him the undisputed “and new” champion.

The judges gave Strickland the edge with a split decision, 48-47, 47-48, 48-47.

The jab and the teep kick have become Strickland’s trademark, but it’s been his defense that has fueled his late-career surge to two title reigns. Against Chimaev, Strickland showed that his defense wasn’t just reserved for strikes, but was also a strength on the mat.

Chimaev opened the fight in typical fashion, blitzing forward with an opening-minute takedown and smothering Strickland for the first five minutes with submission attempts. It appeared Strickland was on his way to being yet another Chimaev victim, like Dricus Du Plessis, Robert Whittaker and Kamaru Usman before him.

But if you’ve ever listened to more than 10 seconds of a Strickland news conference, you know he is unlike any man who has come before him. The sport’s crudest man on the mic capped a bitter, trash-talk-filled week with one of the greatest championship-fight upsets — Chimaev entered the night a minus-500 favorite.

When Strickland upset Israel Adesanya to win his first middleweight title in September 2023, Adesanya closed as a minus-650 favorite.

After all the vitriol was settled in the cage, Chimaev wrapped the belt around the new champion, and Strickland began his reign with an apology for his previous behavior.

“I respect all you guys,” he said. “I should be a better champion when I try to sell these fights.”

The main event was preceded by a lightweight title-fight thriller between Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira. Van successfully defended his title with a late knockout, with the judge calling the bout finished with both fighters still on their feet.

After the win, Van didn’t shy away from a rematch with former champion Alexandre Pantoja, who held the division’s belt for years before suffering a freak elbow dislocation in his December loss to Van.

“Pantoja, you better get your s— right,” Van said. “We can run it back if you want.”

Heavyweights exist under a uniquely harsh spotlight and Dubois has absorbed more than his fair share of scrutiny. One defeat by Joe Joyce and two by Oleksandr Usyk shaped much of the public perception around him, as did persistent questions about his discipline.

Those doubts feel badly outdated now. At 28, Dubois is already a two-time heavyweight world champion – younger than both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury were when they achieved the same feat.

Throughout fight week, the contrast between the two men was stark.

Wardley carried himself with the ease of a man born for the camera. Articulate, witty, and relaxed, the Ipswich man was seen strolling through Manchester city centre. Dubois, meanwhile, walked out of two interviews.

In one, he visibly bristled when the Joyce defeat was raised. In another, he appeared irritated by what he felt was mocking “quick-fire” questioning.

It raises a broader question about double standards; would Joshua or Fury be criticised quite so heavily if they chose not to engage with pre-fight promotional content?

When Dubois answers awkwardly or offers clipped responses, he is often ridiculed online. But boxing is virtually the only world Dubois has ever known.

The home-schooled heavyweight has never looked entirely comfortable under the glare of cameras. He is not a natural salesman and has little interest in manufactured theatre.

Interestingly, moments after the biggest win of his career, Dubois appeared transformed.

In the post-fight interview he spoke calmly, clearly and with genuine warmth. He paid tribute to Wardley, and credited his opponent for the punishment he had absorbed.

Gone was the guarded, uneasy figure seen earlier in the week – Dubois looked entirely comfortable in his own skin.