Alex Pereira voiced his prediction favoring one fighter in the UFC 328 main event between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland. The former champion's non-impartial take adds intrigue to the middleweight title clash. Noted on Sherdog, Pereira's opinion leverages his star power and history in the division. This could sway fan narratives and build rivalries ahead of the Newark event. It highlights ongoing dynamics in the 185-pound title picture post-Pereira's reign.
Alex Pereira has weighed in on the UFC 328 middleweight title fight, publicly backing one competitor in the clash between champion Sean Strickland and top contender Khamzat Chimaev scheduled for May 9 in Newark.
Pereira, now 38 and competing at light heavyweight where he currently holds the championship, carries undeniable credibility when speaking on the 185-pound division. The Brazilian holds a 13-4 record and previously reigned as middleweight champion, making his opinion far from a neutral observer's take. Standing six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, Poatan established himself as one of the most feared strikers in the sport, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a 62 percent accuracy rate across his career.
Strickland enters UFC 328 as the reigning middleweight champion at 31-7, defending against the division's top-ranked challenger. The 35-year-old from the United States is an exceptionally high-volume striker, throwing and landing at a rate of 6.04 significant strikes per minute, though his accuracy sits at 42 percent. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach out of Xtreme Couture, Strickland fights out of an orthodox stance and has shown durable, pressure-based boxing throughout his title run.
Chimaev, ranked first at middleweight and tenth pound-for-pound, brings a contrasting skill set into the main event. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center is 15-1 overall and among the most complete wrestlers in the sport. His takedown rate of 5.29 per 15 minutes is elite, and he connects on 60 percent of his significant strikes, the highest accuracy figure among the three fighters mentioned. At six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Borz presents Strickland with a uniquely dangerous grappling and striking combination.
Why it matters
- Pereira's past reign at middleweight gives his prediction genuine divisional weight
- Strickland vs. Chimaev pits elite striking volume against elite wrestling and striking accuracy
- The outcome reshapes the 185-pound title picture and potential future matchups with Pereira
Saturday, May 9, 2026
