UFC president Dana White revealed the full schedule through mid-June 2026, featuring 10 events from April onward. Key bouts include Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland for middleweight title at UFC 328 on May 9, and Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje for lightweight title on June 14 in Washington D.C. Co-mains like Kyler Phillips vs. Charles Jourdain on April 18 in Winnipeg and Beneil Dariush vs. Quillan Salkilld on May 2 in Perth add depth. This locks in the calendar, offering clarity for fans and fighters amid a busy stretch. It shapes title pictures in middleweight and lightweight divisions, setting up major storylines. Expect ticket sales and more undercard fills soon.
UFC president Dana White has reportedly revealed a packed schedule running through mid-June 2026, anchored by two title fights and a string of supporting cards that flesh out the promotion's calendar from April onward. The announcement has not been officially confirmed, and should be treated as a report at this stage.
The centerpiece of the disclosed schedule is a middleweight title bout between champion Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev, set for UFC 328 on May 9. Strickland, nicknamed Tarzan, carries a 31-7 record and holds the middleweight belt at 35 years old. The American out of Xtreme Couture stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and ranks among the busiest volume strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute.
The lightweight title picture also takes shape further down the calendar, with Ilia Topuria reportedly set to defend against Justin Gaethje on June 14 in Washington D.C. Rounding out the announced bouts, Beneil Dariush faces Quillan Salkilld on May 2 in Perth. Dariush, ranked eighth at lightweight, is a 37-year-old southpaw with a 23-8-1 record who averages 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes for Kings MMA. His opponent, Salkilld, is a 26-year-old Australian ranked 15th in the division and holds a 12-1 record. Fighting out of Luistro Combat Academy, Salkilld posts a striking accuracy of 57 percent and an extraordinary 7.95 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the more aggressive grapplers in the lightweight rankings.
Why it matters
- The Strickland-Chimaev pairing puts the middleweight title on the line in one of the division's most anticipated matchups
- Topuria-Gaethje sets the lightweight title picture for early summer
- Dariush-Salkilld carries ranking implications at 155 pounds, with both men sitting inside the top 15
- The broader schedule provides organizational clarity across multiple divisions heading into a busy stretch of cards
Saturday, May 9, 2026
