UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev will make his first title defense against former champion Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026, in Newark, New Jersey. This highly anticipated matchup represents a significant test for Chimaev as he faces a former titleholder in Strickland, who will be looking to reclaim championship gold. The fight is scheduled for the middleweight title and will be broadcast on Paramount+. This bout is part of a stacked 2026 UFC schedule that includes multiple title fights throughout the year. The May 9 event marks one of the promotion's most significant cards of the spring.
Khamzat Chimaev will put his UFC middleweight title on the line against former champion Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328, set for May 9, 2026, in Newark, New Jersey, with the card broadcasting on Paramount+.
Chimaev, 32, carries a 15-1-0 record into his first championship defense. The UAE-based Allstars Training Center product stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. Ranked tenth pound-for-pound, "Borz" has built his reputation on relentless grappling pressure, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same span. His striking accuracy of 60 percent is among the sharpest in the division.
Strickland, meanwhile, enters the contest looking to reclaim the belt he once held. The 35-year-old American trains out of Xtreme Couture and carries a 31-7-0 record. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, "Tarzan" is one of the most active strikers at 185 pounds, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute and bringing the volume pressure that has troubled opponents throughout his career.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's first title defense arrives against a former champion, immediately establishing the stakes of his reign.
- Strickland's 76-inch reach advantage and 6.04 strikes-per-minute output sets up a direct contrast with Chimaev's elite takedown game of 5.29 per 15 minutes.
- A Strickland victory would make him a two-time middleweight champion; a Chimaev win would cement his status as a dominant force in the division.
- The matchup headlining UFC 328 positions the card as one of the premier events on the promotion's 2026 spring schedule.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
