Chimaev defends middleweight title vs Strickland May 9

UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev will defend his title against former champion Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328 on May 9, 2026, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Chimaev, undefeated at 15-0, won the belt by defeating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 last August, marking his first defense amid bad blood with Strickland. This high-stakes clash headlines the UFC's packed 2026 schedule expansion. Expect intense trash talk leading into the fight, with implications for middleweight supremacy. A press conference is set for Thursday to hype the event.