Chimaev defends belt vs Strickland at UFC 328 in May

Khamzat Chimaev will put his UFC middleweight title on the line against former champion Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328, scheduled for May 9 in Newark, New Jersey.

Chimaev, known as "Borz," enters the fight as the reigning middleweight champion and the number-one contender in the division, also sitting at number ten in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 30-year-old — now 32 and representing the United Arab Emirates out of Allstars Training Center — carries an imposing 15-1-0 professional record. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Chimaev is one of the sport's most complete wrestlers, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 60 percent. He has yet to make a title defense since capturing the belt.

Strickland, nicknamed "Tarzan," brings a 31-7-0 record into the contest and enters as a former middleweight champion looking to reclaim gold. The 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture trains orthodox and stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach. He is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute, and his high-volume output has been a hallmark of his runs through the division.

Why it matters

• Chimaev makes his first title defense, with an undefeated championship run on the line
• Strickland has championship pedigree and a credible path back to the belt
• The stylistic contrast is sharp: Chimaev's elite grappling and takedown volume against Strickland's relentless striking output and 76-inch reach
• A win for either fighter would firmly establish divisional dominance amid a crowded middleweight contender pool