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

The UFC 328 press conference drew roughly 210,000 live viewers on YouTube, placing it fifth on the all-time list of most-watched UFC press conferences and setting a new benchmark for events that do not feature Conor McGregor.

The milestone belongs to a card headlined by a middleweight title fight between Khamzat Chimaev and reigning champion Sean Strickland. Strickland, 35, carries a 31-7-0 record and represents the United States out of Xtreme Couture. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, the orthodox striker is one of the most active volume punchers in the sport, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. His output and outspoken personality have consistently made him appointment viewing.

For context on where the 210,000-viewer mark sits historically, the four press conferences that rank above it all featured McGregor: Khabib Nurmagomedov versus McGregor at UFC 229 tops the list at 505,000 viewers, followed by McGregor versus Poirier at UFC 264 and McGregor versus Diaz at UFC 196, both at 360,000, and the McGregor-Diaz rematch at UFC 202 with 300,000. Khabib, who retired with a perfect 29-0-0 record, averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career and remains the dominant name in that historical tier.

Why it matters

• Strickland's title defense is generating crossover interest that rivals the McGregor era in raw viewership terms
• A 210,000-viewer press conference figure signals genuine mainstream demand heading into UFC 328 on May 9
• The matchup pits one of the division's highest-volume strikers against a challenger in Chimaev who has built his own significant fanbase