Chimaev vs Strickland press conference scheduled for midnight Moscow time

The pre-fight press conference for Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland's UFC 328 main event is scheduled to begin at midnight Moscow time, giving fans around the world an early look at the promotional buildup ahead of the May 9 card.

Strickland, nicknamed "Tarzan," enters as the reigning middleweight champion with a 31-7-0 record. The 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. He is one of the busiest strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy, and he rarely relies on the grappling game, averaging fewer than one takedown attempt per 15 minutes.

Chimaev, known as "Borz," is the number-one ranked middleweight contender and sits tenth on the pound-for-pound list. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center carries a 15-1-0 record and stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. His offensive numbers tell the story of a fighter who overwhelms opponents in multiple areas — he lands 60 percent of his significant strikes and averages an elite 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, backed by 1.8 submission attempts in the same span.

Why it matters

• The matchup pits the division's most active striker against one of MMA's most dominant grapplers, creating a sharp stylistic contrast.
• A Chimaev victory would hand the number-one contender his first UFC title and validate his rapid rise through the middleweight ranks.
• Strickland's ability to defend takedowns and maintain his striking output over five rounds will be the central narrative heading into UFC 328.