The UFC 328 press conference featuring Khamzat Chimaev vs Sean Strickland drew approximately 210,000 live viewers on YouTube, making it the fifth most-watched press conference in UFC history. This marks the highest viewership for any UFC press conference not involving Conor McGregor. The top four spots are all held by McGregor events, with Khabib vs McGregor at UFC 229 leading with 505,000 live viewers. The strong viewership indicates significant fan interest in the upcoming middleweight title fight. This unprecedented non-McGregor viewership demonstrates the drawing power of both Chimaev and Strickland heading into their championship bout.
The pre-fight press conference for UFC 328 drew approximately 210,000 live viewers on YouTube, making it the fifth most-watched press conference in UFC history and the highest-ever for an event not featuring Conor McGregor. The milestone arrives one day before the card itself, scheduled for May 9, 2026.
The top four spots on the all-time list belong to McGregor events, with the UFC 229 press conference headlined by Khabib Nurmagomedov and McGregor leading the way at 505,000 live viewers. That figure now serves as the benchmark against which the Chimaev-Strickland number is being measured.
Sean Strickland enters UFC 328 as the reigning middleweight champion, carrying a 31-7-0 record at 35 years old. The American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and averages 6.04 significant strikes per minute, one of the higher output figures in the division.
Khamzat Chimaev is the number-one ranked middleweight contender and sits tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings at just 32 years old. The UAE-based Allstars Training Center product holds a 15-1-0 record and brings a well-rounded threat: a 60 percent striking accuracy rate and 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, paired with 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, make him dangerous in every phase.
Why it matters
- The viewership record signals crossover appeal for a middleweight title fight that does not involve a legacy pay-per-view name
- A Chimaev win would install the pound-for-pound top-ten fighter as champion, reshaping the division's competitive landscape
- The striking-heavy champion against a high-accuracy, elite-wrestling challenger sets up a genuinely contrasting style matchup
Saturday, May 9, 2026
