Promotional photos have been released for the main event of UFC 328, featuring middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev defending his title for the first time against challenger Sean Strickland. This will be Chimaev's maiden title defense after capturing the belt, while Strickland enters his fourth UFC championship bout. The images showcase both fighters ahead of their highly anticipated clash. UFC 328 is set to be one of the marquee events of the year. Details on the exact date and venue were not provided in the announcement.
Promotional photos for UFC 328's main event have dropped, giving fans their first official look at middleweight champion Sean Strickland and top contender Khamzat Chimaev ahead of their title clash scheduled for May 9, 2026.
Strickland, nicknamed "Tarzan," enters the bout as the reigning middleweight champion with a professional record of 31-7-0. The 35-year-old American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. This will be his fourth UFC championship bout, underlining his long-standing presence at the top of the division. Strickland is one of the busiest strikers in the middleweight class, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," comes in as the number-one ranked middleweight and number-ten pound-for-pound fighter, carrying a 15-1-0 record. The 32-year-old, who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains at Allstars Training Center in Sweden, stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. According to UFC 328 promotional materials, this will be his first defense of the middleweight title. Chimaev's numbers on the ground are among the most imposing in the sport, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 60 percent.
Why it matters
- Strickland's volume striking meets Chimaev's elite grappling in a stark stylistic contrast
- A Chimaev victory would mark his first successful title defense; a Strickland win would be his fourth UFC championship-fight appearance with a statement result
- At number one in the division and number ten pound-for-pound, Chimaev's ranking trajectory could shift significantly depending on the outcome
- The middleweight title picture for the remainder of 2026 hinges on this matchup
Saturday, May 9, 2026
