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

The UFC 328 press conference drew approximately 210,000 concurrent viewers on YouTube, making it the fifth-most-watched press conference in promotional history and the highest-ever for an event not featuring Conor McGregor.

The viewership benchmark puts the Khamzat Chimaev versus Sean Strickland faceoff in elite company. The all-time list is dominated by McGregor appearances: Khabib versus McGregor at UFC 229 holds the record at 505,000 viewers, followed by McGregor versus Poirier 3 at UFC 264 and McGregor versus Diaz at UFC 196, both at 360,000, and McGregor versus Diaz 2 at UFC 202 with 300,000. The UFC 328 press conference slots in directly behind all four of those.

Strickland enters the event as the reigning middleweight champion, carrying a 31-7-0 record at 35 years old. The American out of Xtreme Couture stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and throws at a relentless pace of 6.04 significant strikes per minute, one of the highest output rates in the division.

The notable absence of verified data for Chimaev in the database means the focus falls squarely on the champion heading into fight week.

Why it matters

• The 210,000-viewer figure is the highest press conference draw in UFC history for a bout not involving McGregor, signaling crossover appeal for this matchup
• Strickland's middleweight title is on the line, giving the event significant divisional stakes
• The number ranks ahead of several high-profile pay-per-view press conferences, underlining the broad public interest heading into UFC 328 on May 9