UFC 328 headliners Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland, along with Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira, are scheduled to speak at the pre-fight press conference on Thursday at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. The event builds hype for the Newark card, touted as the UFC's best of 2026. Chimaev appears set for a title defense per recent reports. This presser is key for fan engagement and potential trash talk ahead of the high-stakes main event. Expect insights into fight preparations and rivalries.
The UFC 328 pre-fight press conference is scheduled for Thursday at 5 p.m. ET, bringing together the headliners and co-main event fighters ahead of the Newark card on May 9. Because this is based on recent reports rather than an official UFC announcement, some details remain subject to change.
At the top of the bill, middleweight champion Sean Strickland is expected to make an appearance, with reports suggesting he is set for a title defense. "Tarzan" carries a 31-7 record into the event at 35 years old, representing Xtreme Couture out of the United States. The six-foot-one, 185-centimeter orthodox striker lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute and works at a relentless pace, posting a striking accuracy of 42 percent over a high volume of output. His opponent, Khamzat Chimaev, is not listed in the verified fighter data but is reported as the other half of the main event.
The co-main event features a flyweight title clash, pitting champion Joshua Van against ranked contender Tatsuro Taira. Van, known as "The Fearless," is just 24 years old and holds a 17-2 record fighting out of Myanmar. He lands an eye-catching 8.84 significant strikes per minute at a 56 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the most efficient strikers in the division. Taira, a 26-year-old from Japan ranked fifth at flyweight, offers a sharp contrasting style. He carries an 18-2 record, a 60 percent striking accuracy, and averages 3.12 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.6 submission attempts, making him one of the more dangerous grapplers in the weight class.
Why it matters
- The press conference puts two championship fights under the spotlight simultaneously, raising the event's profile considerably.
- A potential Strickland title defense adds further stakes to the middleweight division's near-term landscape.
- Van versus Taira pits an elite volume striker against a submission-oriented grappler, creating a compelling stylistic clash at flyweight.
- Thursday's presser offers the first public face-off, where trash talk and pre-fight tension could sharpen interest heading into fight night.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
