Multiple fighter confrontations are anticipated throughout fight week beyond the main event between Strickland and Chimaev. Josh Hawkit, who has called out Alex Pereira, is likely to try provoking Pereira during the week since they will cross paths at the press conference. A meeting between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan is also very probable, as the White House event press conference will occur just before the UFC 328 face-offs, and Tsarukyan will be with Khamzat Chimaev's team. Security is expected to be on high alert for these potential interactions.
Fight week for UFC 328 is shaping up to be eventful well before anyone steps into the octagon, with multiple heated confrontations anticipated between fighters scheduled to cross paths at press conferences and public events ahead of the May 9 card.
The most closely watched potential flashpoint involves Josh Hawkit and light heavyweight standout Ilia Topuria. Hawkit, who has publicly called out Topuria, is expected to seize on their shared presence at the UFC 328 press conference to provoke a reaction. A separate encounter involving Topuria and lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan is also considered highly probable, given that Tsarukyan will be attending as part of Khamzat Chimaev's camp. A White House event press conference is scheduled to take place just before the UFC 328 face-offs, setting the stage for that particular interaction.
Chimaev himself headlines UFC 328 as the number-one-ranked middleweight challenger, taking on reigning champion Sean Strickland. The 32-year-old from the UAE carries a 15-1 record and is among the most efficient grapplers in the division, averaging 5.29 takedowns per fifteen minutes with a striking accuracy of 60 percent. Strickland, 35, enters as the middleweight champion with a 31-7 record, throwing at a high volume of 6.04 significant strikes per minute and boasting a 76-inch reach.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and currently sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings at 29 years old, holds a 17-1 record and averages nearly two takedowns per fifteen minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 48 percent. His presence at the event — even outside of competing — appears likely to generate its own storylines.
Why it matters
- Security is expected to be on heightened alert throughout fight week given the number of potential confrontations
- The overlap of Chimaev's team with fighters from other divisions creates cross-divisional friction points beyond the main event
- Topuria's attendance and his ongoing pursuit of a high-profile matchup could accelerate negotiations or public pressure heading into the weekend
Saturday, May 9, 2026
