Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland participated in an official photo session ahead of their main event clash at UFC 328. This bout will mark Chimaev's first title defense, while for Strickland it represents his fourth title fight in the UFC. The post highlights the contrasting championship experience between the two middleweights. Official UFC photography was shared to promote the upcoming matchup. The post does not specify the event date or location beyond the UFC 328 designation.
Three days out from UFC 328, middleweight champion Sean Strickland and top contender Khamzat Chimaev came face-to-face for an official UFC photo session, the latest promotional step before their main event showdown scheduled for May 9.
Strickland, 35, carries a 31-7-0 record into the bout and will be making his fourth title-fight appearance in the UFC under the Middleweight banner. Fighting out of Xtreme Couture, the six-foot-one American is one of the most active strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach that helps him control range. His takedown defense has historically been tested, averaging just 0.71 takedowns landed per 15 minutes of his own, a figure that speaks to his preference for keeping the fight standing.
Chimaev, 32, enters as the number-one ranked middleweight and sits tenth on the pound-for-pound list, bringing a 15-1-0 record built on one of the most eye-catching profiles in the sport. The UAE-based Swede stands six-foot-two and completes takedowns at a remarkable rate of 5.29 per 15 minutes, pairing that wrestling dominance with a striking accuracy of 60 percent. This will be his first defense of the middleweight title, and his 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes signals he looks to finish wherever the fight goes.
Why it matters
- Strickland's championship experience — four title fights — contrasts sharply with Chimaev's first defense, raising the question of big-fight composure under pressure.
- Chimaev's elite takedown volume against Strickland's striker-first style sets up a classic wrestling-versus-boxing dynamic at 185 pounds.
- A Chimaev victory would consolidate his pound-for-pound standing; a Strickland win would further cement one of the division's more unlikely championship reigns.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
