UFC 328 is set for May 9, 2026, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, headlined by undefeated middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev defending against former champion Sean Strickland. A flyweight title bout between champion Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira was rescheduled here from UFC 327 after Van's minor injury withdrawal one week prior. This marks UFC's 12th Newark event since UFC 316 in 2025. The middleweight clash tests Chimaev's undefeated streak against Strickland's experience, potentially defining the division. A middleweight bout between Osman Diaz and Ateba Gautier is also booked, while Daniel Santos vs. Choi Doo-ho moved to another card. Fans anticipate stacked card announcements soon.
Reports indicate that UFC 328 is being targeted for May 9, 2026, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, though the card has not yet received official confirmation. According to the report, the event would be headlined by undefeated middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev putting his title on the line against former champion Sean Strickland.
Strickland, 35, enters carrying a 31-7-0 record and holds champion status in the middleweight division. The American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, is an orthodox striker standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach. He lands an impressive 6.04 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the higher-volume output fighters in the division.
The card would also feature a flyweight title defense, reportedly moved here from UFC 327 after champion Joshua Van suffered a minor injury that forced his withdrawal from that event. Van, just 24 years old and representing Myanmar, carries a 17-2-0 record. He is one of the most accurate strikers in the flyweight division, landing at a 56 percent clip while averaging a remarkable 8.84 significant strikes per minute.
Van's reported challenger, Tatsuro Taira, would face a champion who covers considerable ground despite standing five-foot-five with a 65-inch reach.
Also reportedly booked is a middleweight contest between Osman Diaz and Ateba Gautier. The 24-year-old Gautier, known as The Silent Assassin, stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach and switches stances. He owns an 11-1-0 record and connects at 48 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's undefeated streak faces its stiffest test against the experienced, high-volume Strickland, a former titleholder who knows the championship rounds
- A Van title defense re-booking keeps the flyweight division moving after the UFC 327 disruption
- Gautier's middleweight appearance at six-foot-four adds a physical dimension to the undercard worth tracking in a stacked 185-pound landscape
Saturday, May 9, 2026
