UFC 328 press conference draws 210,000 live viewers, fifth-highest ever

The UFC 328 press conference drew approximately 210,000 live viewers on YouTube, making it the fifth-most-watched press conference in UFC history and the highest-viewed edition not featuring Conor McGregor. The event, held the day before UFC 328, centered on the upcoming middleweight clash between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland. The top four spots on the all-time list are held exclusively by McGregor-headlined press conferences, with the UFC 229 face-off between Khabib Nurmagomedov and McGregor sitting at the summit with 505,000 viewers.

Strickland, 35, enters the bout as the reigning middleweight champion, carrying a 31-7-0 record out of Xtreme Couture. The six-foot-one American is one of the most active volume strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach that allows him to punish opponents from range. His wrestling threat is limited — averaging just 0.71 takedowns per 15 minutes — meaning his fights tend to stay on the feet and deliver consistent action for fans.

Note that Khamzat Chimaev's verified data was not available in the database for this report.

Why it matters

• The 210,000-viewer figure places UFC 328 ahead of virtually every non-McGregor press conference the promotion has held, signaling outsized mainstream interest in the Chimaev-Strickland matchup.
• Strickland's middleweight title is on the line, giving the viewership milestone direct relevance to divisional stakes heading into fight night.
• The numbers suggest pay-per-view demand for UFC 328 could be similarly elevated, with fan curiosity around both fighters running unusually high.