UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is scheduled to make his first title defense against former champion Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328 on May 9 in Newark, New Jersey. This blockbuster matchup headlines the updated 2026 event schedule released recently. The fight pits Chimaev's undefeated streak and wrestling dominance against Strickland's elite striking and cardio, potentially reshaping the middleweight division. Additional bouts like Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott on April 18 in Winnipeg and Aljamain Sterling vs. Youseff Zalal on April 25 in Las Vegas are confirmed. Expect high stakes as Chimaev aims to solidify his reign while Strickland seeks revenge.
UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev will put his title on the line against Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328, scheduled for May 9 in Newark, New Jersey, marking Chimaev's first defense of the middleweight belt.
Chimaev, 32, enters the fight carrying a 15-1 record and ranked tenth on the pound-for-pound list. The UAE-based Allstars Training Center product stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and has built his reputation on suffocating wrestling, averaging an extraordinary 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. His striking accuracy of 60 percent further underscores why he is considered one of the most complete fighters in the division.
Strickland, the former middleweight champion, comes in at 31-7 and brings a very different skill set to the matchup. The 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and is one of the division's most prolific volume strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. Operating from an orthodox stance, the fighter known as "Tarzan" has long been regarded as one of the best boxing-based middleweights in the world.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is making his first middleweight title defense, giving the bout immediate championship stakes
- Strickland's history in the division as a former titleholder adds a revenge dimension to the contest
- The contrasting styles — Chimaev's elite grappling versus Strickland's high-volume striking — sets up a compelling stylistic clash that could define the middleweight landscape heading into the second half of 2026
- Two additional confirmed bouts round out the broader spring schedule: Gilbert Burns meets Mike Malott on April 18 in Winnipeg, and Aljamain Sterling faces Youseff Zalal on April 25 in Las Vegas
Saturday, May 9, 2026
