Chimaev vs Strickland photo session released for UFC 328 main event

The UFC has released official photo session images for the UFC 328 main event, putting a face-off spotlight on middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev and challenger Sean Strickland ahead of their title clash scheduled for May 9.

Chimaev, known as "Borz," carries a 15-1-0 record into this fight and represents the United Arab Emirates out of Allstars Training Center. The 32-year-old stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and holds the number-one middleweight ranking as well as a spot at number ten in the pound-for-pound rankings. UFC 328 marks his first defense of the middleweight title, and his statistical profile underscores why opponents treat him as a serious threat on the mat — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands submission attempts at a rate of 1.8 per 15 minutes, while connecting on an impressive 60 percent of his significant strikes.

Strickland, fighting out of Xtreme Couture, brings a 31-7-0 record and the experience of a fighter who knows championship night well. The 35-year-old American, nicknamed "Tarzan," stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach. This will be his fourth title fight appearance in the UFC — a level of big-fight exposure few middleweights can match. He averages 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute, giving him one of the higher output rates in the division, and applies consistent forward pressure in the orthodox stance.

Why it matters

• Chimaev puts his middleweight title on the line for the first time, raising the stakes of every round
• Strickland's fourth UFC title fight appearance signals he remains among the division's elite
• A grappling-heavy champion collides with a high-volume striker, creating a sharp stylistic contrast
• A Chimaev win cements his reign; a Strickland win would mark a significant title change at 185 pounds