Beyond the main event between Strickland and Chimaev, multiple fighter confrontations are anticipated throughout UFC 328 fight week. Josh Hockit, who previously called out Alex Pereira, is expected to provoke Pereira during the press conference when they cross paths. A meeting between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan is also highly likely, as the White House event press conference will occur just before the UFC 328 face-offs, and Tsarukyan will be present with Chimaev's team. Security is expected to be on high alert given the potential for these confrontations.
Fight week for UFC 328 is shaping up to be eventful well beyond the main event, with multiple face-offs and potential confrontations expected during press conference activities ahead of the card on May 9.
The headlining bout features Sean Strickland defending the middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev. Strickland, 35, carries a 31-7-0 record and represents one of the division's most active strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach that helps him control range from the orthodox stance. The American trains out of Xtreme Couture and has held the middleweight crown through a series of high-profile defenses.
Chimaev, the number-one-ranked middleweight at 32 years old, enters at 15-1-0 and brings an elite grappling-heavy style to the matchup. The UAE-based fighter posts a remarkable 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands his strikes at a 60 percent accuracy rate, among the highest in the division.
Away from the main event, Josh Hockit — who has publicly called out light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira — is expected to seek out Pereira during the press conference. The two crossing paths is considered likely, and security is anticipated to be closely monitoring the situation.
A separate flashpoint involves lightweight contender Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan. Topuria, the pound-for-pound number-one fighter in the world and ranked second at lightweight, holds a 17-1-0 record and fights out of Spain at 29 years old. Tsarukyan is expected to be present at the White House event press conference as part of Chimaev's team, placing the two in the same room shortly before the UFC 328 face-offs begin.
Why it matters
- The middleweight title fight between Strickland and Chimaev carries significant divisional weight given Chimaev's number-one ranking
- A Topuria-Tsarukyan encounter could accelerate or complicate lightweight title picture negotiations
- Security staffing is expected to reflect the elevated tension across multiple potential confrontations throughout the week
Saturday, May 9, 2026
