UFC 328 is officially set for Newark, USA, with Khamzat Chimaev facing Sean Strickland in the main event, targeting middleweight supremacy. Jack Della Maddalena vs. Prates headlines a Fight Night in Perth, Australia. These bookings reshape middleweight and welterweight landscapes, positioning winners for title shots. Chimaev's undefeated streak vs. Strickland's resilience promises fireworks. The schedule confirms packed 2026 calendar. Fans anticipate weigh-ins and further card fills in coming weeks.
Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland will collide for middleweight supremacy in the main event of UFC 328, set for Newark on May 9, 2026, with the UFC officially confirming the booking.
Chimaev enters the fight as the number-one-ranked middleweight contender and holds a 15-1-0 professional record. The 32-year-old, who competes out of Allstars Training Center and represents the United Arab Emirates, is one of the most feared grapplers in the division. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, "Borz" averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 60 percent of his significant strikes — a combination of elite wrestling and precise offense that has overwhelmed most opponents he has faced.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, brings a 31-7-0 record and his trademark high-volume striking into this matchup. The 35-year-old from the United States trains out of Xtreme Couture and is known for his extraordinary output, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. "Tarzan" stands six-foot-one and has built his championship run on relentless pressure and durability.
Also confirmed, Jack Della Maddalena will headline a Fight Night card in Perth, Australia. The 29-year-old welterweight ranks fourth in his division and thirteenth in the pound-for-pound standings, carrying an 18-4-0 record. Fighting out of Scrappy MMA, Della Maddalena is a switch-stance striker who lands 51 percent of his significant strikes at a rate of 5.57 per minute — making him one of the more accurate and active welterweights on the roster.
Why it matters
- Chimaev holds the number-one middleweight ranking; a win earns the title, a loss reshapes the division's top five
- Strickland defending keeps one of the UFC's most active champions atop a stacked 185-pound class
- Della Maddalena's Perth headliner, as a top-five welterweight, carries clear title-shot implications at 170 pounds
- The stylistic contrast of Chimaev's grappling dominance against Strickland's high-output striking sets up a compelling tactical battle
Saturday, May 9, 2026
