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Get the live coverage of UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland from Prudential Center in Newark on May 9, 2026
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The promotion will also stage the UFC 328 ceremonial weigh ins later tonight (complete with fighter staredowns) live from Prudential Center in Newark beginning at 6 p.m. ET. Note: New Jersey Athletic Commission affords a one-pound allowance in non-title fights, but championship contests must return exact weights, no exceptions.
Chimaev stands 1.88 m with a 1.91 m reach and is listed with an MMA-based style. Strickland is 1.85 m with a slightly longer 1.93 m reach and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu tag in the dataset. The tale of the tape suggests small height for Chimaev, small reach for Strickland, and a genuine middleweight build for both.
Chimaev captured the belt last year with a dominant victory over Dricus Du Plessis, overwhelming him with relentless wrestling and ground control. Although Chimaev’s recent fights have been more competitive than his explosive early UFC appearances, he remains undefeated and continues to prove himself against elite opponents.
Strickland, who owns a 30-7 record, hopes to win back the middleweight belt with his trademark upright boxing style and relentless striking volume. He will likely try to keep the fight on the feet while pushing Chimaev into deep waters across five rounds to test his endurance. The rivalry has grown increasingly personal in recent weeks, with both fighters exchanging public insults and threats, turning the matchup into one of the most heated UFC main events in recent memory.
With all 13 scheduled matchups facing off for the final time, including Khamzat Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) vs. Sean Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) for the middleweight title and Joshua Van (15-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) vs. Tatsuro Taira (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) for flyweight gold, there is high energy expected as pre-fight activities came to a close with one last staredown.
Saturday's champions and challengers will attend the UFC 328 pre-fight press conference. Middleweight champion Chimaev and flyweight champion Joshua Van will take one side of the stage with challengers Strickland and Tatsuro Taira on the other. Unlike recent press conferences, the other main card fights are absent on Thursday.
It's been eight years since Stephens had a small successful run in the UFC with a three-fight winning streak that culminated with a UFC Orlando main event win over Josh Emmett. That was in early 2018, and Stephens has won just one MMA fight since then: a split decision over Myles Price in the PFL nearly four years ago. He left the UFC on a five-fight skid, went 1-2 in the PFL, but was brought back to the UFC for a fight in his native Iowa last year.
With multiple teams of both UFC security guards and New Jersey police officers lining the stage, Strickland and Chimaev began levying insults and threats, all while rarely going a full sentence without cursing. A few years ago, the pair spent some brief time training together at the Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas, but their personalities clashed and suffice it to say, it was determined they would not be ideal sparring partners in the future.
Get the live coverage of UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland from Prudential Center in Newark on May 9, 2026
Watch UFC https://cutt.ly/utCoNnVDWatch UFC https://cutt.ly/utCoNnVDThe promotion will also stage the UFC 328 ceremonial weigh ins later tonight (complete with fighter staredowns) live from Prudential Center in Newark beginning at 6 p.m. ET. Note: New Jersey Athletic Commission affords a one-pound allowance in non-title fights, but championship contests must return exact weights, no exceptions.
Chimaev stands 1.88 m with a 1.91 m reach and is listed with an MMA-based style. Strickland is 1.85 m with a slightly longer 1.93 m reach and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu tag in the dataset. The tale of the tape suggests small height for Chimaev, small reach for Strickland, and a genuine middleweight build for both.
Chimaev captured the belt last year with a dominant victory over Dricus Du Plessis, overwhelming him with relentless wrestling and ground control. Although Chimaev’s recent fights have been more competitive than his explosive early UFC appearances, he remains undefeated and continues to prove himself against elite opponents.
Strickland, who owns a 30-7 record, hopes to win back the middleweight belt with his trademark upright boxing style and relentless striking volume. He will likely try to keep the fight on the feet while pushing Chimaev into deep waters across five rounds to test his endurance. The rivalry has grown increasingly personal in recent weeks, with both fighters exchanging public insults and threats, turning the matchup into one of the most heated UFC main events in recent memory.
With all 13 scheduled matchups facing off for the final time, including Khamzat Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) vs. Sean Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) for the middleweight title and Joshua Van (15-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) vs. Tatsuro Taira (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) for flyweight gold, there is high energy expected as pre-fight activities came to a close with one last staredown.
Saturday's champions and challengers will attend the UFC 328 pre-fight press conference. Middleweight champion Chimaev and flyweight champion Joshua Van will take one side of the stage with challengers Strickland and Tatsuro Taira on the other. Unlike recent press conferences, the other main card fights are absent on Thursday.
It's been eight years since Stephens had a small successful run in the UFC with a three-fight winning streak that culminated with a UFC Orlando main event win over Josh Emmett. That was in early 2018, and Stephens has won just one MMA fight since then: a split decision over Myles Price in the PFL nearly four years ago. He left the UFC on a five-fight skid, went 1-2 in the PFL, but was brought back to the UFC for a fight in his native Iowa last year.
With multiple teams of both UFC security guards and New Jersey police officers lining the stage, Strickland and Chimaev began levying insults and threats, all while rarely going a full sentence without cursing. A few years ago, the pair spent some brief time training together at the Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas, but their personalities clashed and suffice it to say, it was determined they would not be ideal sparring partners in the future.