The UFC 328 press conference featuring Khamzat Chimaev versus Sean Strickland attracted 210,000 concurrent online viewers on YouTube, marking the fifth-highest viewership for any UFC press conference in the promotion's history. Notably, it achieved the highest viewership of any press conference not involving Conor McGregor. The top four most-watched press conferences all featured McGregor, with Khabib vs McGregor at UFC 229 leading at 505,000 viewers. The strong viewership numbers indicate significant fan interest in the Chimaev-Strickland matchup. This viewing data demonstrates the promotional value and drawing power of the heated rivalry between the two middleweights.
The pre-fight press conference for UFC 328 pulled in 210,000 concurrent viewers on YouTube, making it the fifth-most-watched UFC press conference in the promotion's history and the most-viewed of any that did not feature Conor McGregor. The four events above it on the all-time list all had McGregor on the dais, with the Khabib Nurmagomedov versus McGregor face-off ahead of UFC 229 setting the benchmark at 505,000 concurrent viewers. The numbers signal a sharp level of public interest in tomorrow's middleweight title fight.
At the center of the event is reigning middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who carries a 31-7-0 record into the contest. The 35-year-old American, who trains at Xtreme Couture, stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and is one of the division's most relentless volume strikers, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute.
Challenging for the belt is the number-one-ranked middleweight Khamzat Chimaev, ranked tenth pound-for-pound and holding a 15-1-0 record. The 32-year-old, who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains at Allstars Training Center, stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. Chimaev posts a striking accuracy of 60 percent and averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat across all phases.
Why it matters
- The 210,000-viewer figure is the highest non-McGregor press conference in UFC history, reflecting elite marquee value for both fighters.
- A Chimaev victory would hand the number-one-ranked middleweight his first world title and could reshape the division's top five.
- The stylistic contrast — Strickland's high-volume striking against Chimaev's combination of 60-percent accuracy and elite grappling — has clearly captured fan attention ahead of fight night.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
