"Chimaev defeated Dricus Du Plessis with apparent ease at UFC 319 last August. That marked the Chechen's long-awaited summit at the top of the middleweight mountain. The only knock on "Borz" over the past few years has been his lack of activity, partly due to illness. He's fought just once in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025."
"Strickland reinserted himself in the title picture by defeated the surging Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez by knockout in the main event of UFC Houston last month. After shocking the MMA world by defeating Israel Adesanya to claim gold in September of 2023, Strickland lost the title to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in Toronto the following January."
"On Thursday, UFC officials announced that Chimaev (15-0) will make his first title defense in May, when he'll take on Sean Strickland (30-7) in the main event of UFC 328. The card takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on May 9, 2026, and sees Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta serving as co-headliner."
Khamzat Chimaev will make his first middleweight title defense against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey on May 9, 2026. Chimaev won the title by defeating Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 in August 2025. Strickland earned his title shot by knocking out Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston. Strickland previously challenged for the middleweight title twice, losing to both Du Plessis and Adesanya. The UFC 328 card includes Alexander Volkov versus Waldo Cortes-Acosta as the co-main event, along with several other matchups.
Read at Cageside Press
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