A preview post for UFC 328 asks which fighter fans will be rooting for in an upcoming bout. The post presents a choice between supporting Chimaev or Strickland, suggesting a matchup between the two is set for the event. The post is promotional in nature, using emoji reactions to gauge fan interest. Details about the specific weight class or title implications were not provided in this brief announcement.
The UFC's promotional machine is already building buzz for UFC 328, with the organization putting the question directly to fans: Chimaev or Strickland? A preview post ahead of the May 9 event asks supporters to pick their fighter, pointing toward a middleweight clash between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland on that card.
Sean Strickland, known as "Tarzan," enters as the reigning middleweight champion. The 35-year-old American trains out of Xtreme Couture and carries a 31-7-0 professional record. Fighting out of an orthodox stance at six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, Strickland is one of the sport's most relentless volume strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy.
Khamzat Chimaev, nicknamed "Borz," is ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 30-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates and Allstars Training Center holds a 15-1-0 record and stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. His 60 percent striking accuracy stands out, but it is his elite wrestling that defines him — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts in the same span.
Why it matters
- A Chimaev win over the champion would reshape the middleweight division immediately
- Strickland defending against the division's top-ranked contender would cement his title reign
- The matchup pits Chimaev's smothering grappling against Strickland's high-volume, pressure-heavy striking style
- The promotional fan-vote framing signals the UFC views this as a marquee attraction for the May 9 card
Saturday, May 9, 2026
