The UFC 328 press conference featuring Khamzat Chimaev versus Sean Strickland attracted 210,000 live viewers on YouTube. This viewership number ranks as the fifth-highest in UFC press conference history and the best for any event not featuring Conor McGregor. The only press conferences with higher live viewership were UFC 229 (Khabib vs McGregor with 505,000), UFC 264 (McGregor vs Poirier 3 with 360,000), UFC 196 (McGregor vs Diaz with 360,000), and UFC 202 (McGregor vs Diaz 2 with 300,000). This demonstrates significant fan interest in the Chimaev-Strickland matchup. The viewership indicates this is one of the most anticipated non-McGregor events in recent UFC history.
The UFC 328 pre-fight press conference drew 210,000 live viewers on YouTube on May 8, placing the middleweight title showdown between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland among the most-watched press conference events in promotional history.
The figure ranks fifth all-time for UFC press conference viewership on the platform, trailing only four events that featured Conor McGregor: UFC 229 with 505,000 viewers, UFC 264 and UFC 196 each with 360,000, and UFC 202 with 300,000. Crucially, the Chimaev-Strickland number stands as the highest ever recorded for a card not headlined by McGregor, underlining the unusual level of mainstream interest surrounding this matchup.
Chimaev enters the fight as the number-one ranked middleweight and tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates carries a 15-1 record and trains out of Allstars Training Center in Sweden. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he is one of the division's most complete threats, landing 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and connecting on 60 percent of his significant strikes.
Strickland holds the middleweight title and brings a 31-7 record into the bout. The 35-year-old American, who trains at Xtreme Couture, stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach. He is one of the busiest strikers in the sport, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute, though the champion's style relies more on volume than pinpoint accuracy at 42 percent.
Why it matters
- The viewership record confirms Chimaev versus Strickland has crossed into genuine mainstream appeal without McGregor as a draw.
- The contest carries the middleweight championship, meaning the divisional picture will shift significantly the following night.
- The stylistic contrast — Chimaev's elite wrestling and Strickland's high-output striking — gives fans a clear clash of methods to invest in.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
