Chimaev vs Strickland set for UFC 328 in Newark

The UFC middleweight title picture snapped into focus on April 23 when the promotion confirmed Khamzat Chimaev will put his championship on the line against Sean Strickland at UFC 328, scheduled for May 9 in Newark, New Jersey.

Chimaev, known as "Borz," enters the contest as the reigning middleweight champion making the first defense of his title. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center carries a 15-1-0 record and sits at number ten in the pound-for-pound rankings. At six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he is one of the division's most suffocating wrestlers, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, and his 60 percent striking accuracy underlines how clean his offense is when fights remain standing.

Strickland, nicknamed "Tarzan," is the former champion looking to reclaim gold. The 35-year-old from the United States trains out of Xtreme Couture and holds a 31-7-0 record. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, he is one of the busiest strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. His high-volume, orthodox boxing has tested every opponent he has faced at 185 pounds.

Why it matters

• Chimaev's title reign gets its first real test against a proven former champion
• A Strickland victory would mark his second middleweight title run, further complicating an already crowded division
• The stylistic contrast is stark: Chimaev's elite grappling against Strickland's durable, volume-heavy striking
• The result will significantly reshape the 185-pound rankings heading into the back half of 2026