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

The UFC 328 pre-fight press conference drew 210,000 concurrent viewers on YouTube, placing it fifth on the all-time list of most-watched UFC press conference streams ahead of the event scheduled for May 9, 2026.

The milestone carries an added distinction: the matchup between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland produced the highest viewership ever recorded for a UFC press conference that did not feature Conor McGregor. The top four spots on the all-time list are each occupied by McGregor appearances, led by the UFC 229 presser centered on Khabib Nurmagomedov and McGregor, which peaked at 505,000 viewers. UFC 264 and UFC 196 each drew 360,000, while UFC 202 attracted 300,000.

Strickland, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, enters the fight at 35 years old carrying a 31-7-0 record. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, the Xtreme Couture product is one of the most active volume strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. His Orthodox stance and relentless output have defined his path to the title.

Why it matters

• The 210,000-viewer figure signals broad mainstream interest in the middleweight title fight, even without McGregor's star power attached.
• Strickland's championship is on the line, meaning the result will directly reshape the middleweight rankings.
• The viewership record for a non-McGregor press conference suggests Chimaev and Strickland are emerging as genuine pay-per-view draws in their own right.