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

The UFC 328 pre-fight press conference drew approximately 210,000 concurrent live viewers on YouTube, making it the fifth most-watched press conference in promotional history and the most-viewed ever not to feature Conor McGregor.

The milestone was driven by the headline matchup between middleweight champion Sean Strickland and Hamzat Chimaev ahead of UFC 328 on May 9, 2026. Strickland, 35, carries a 31-7-0 record into the bout and holds the middleweight title fighting out of Xtreme Couture. Known for relentless output, the six-foot-one American averages 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach that he uses to maintain distance and volume throughout his fights.

The all-time press conference viewership record belongs to the UFC 229 face-off between Khabib Nurmagomedov and McGregor, which attracted 505,000 concurrent viewers. The remaining spots in the top four are also claimed by McGregor events — UFC 264 against Dustin Poirier and his two bouts with Nate Diaz at UFC 196 and UFC 202.

Why it matters

• The 210,000-viewer figure is the highest ever recorded for a UFC press conference not involving McGregor, signaling genuine mainstream interest in the Strickland-Chimaev middleweight title fight.
• Strickland's polarizing public persona and Chimaev's unfinished business in the division have combined to generate an audience that rivals some of the sport's marquee superstar events.
• The numbers suggest the middleweight division is carrying significant commercial momentum heading into UFC 328.