Four Russian athletes are competing at UFC 328 in Newark. Hamzat Chimaev is making his first middleweight title defense against Sean Strickland in the main event. Alexander Volkov is fighting another contender bout against Waldo Cortes-Acosta in the heavyweight division. Roman Kopylov faces Brazilian striker Marco Tulio, marking his third consecutive opponent from Brazil. Baisangur Susurkaev, who remains undefeated, is attempting to break into the top 15 by defeating Jordon Santos. The post expresses well-wishes to all four fighters ahead of their bouts.
Four Russian fighters will take center stage at UFC 328 in Newark on May 9, 2026, with bouts spread across the card from middleweight title action all the way down to a rising prospect looking to crack the rankings.
The headlining fight features Hamzat Chimaev making the first defense of his middleweight title against Sean Strickland. Strickland, 35, carries a 31-7-0 record and holds the middleweight championship under the banner of Xtreme Couture. The American stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. He is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy.
Alexander Volkov, known as Drago, returns to heavyweight contention against Waldo Cortes-Acosta. The 37-year-old Russian is ranked first in the heavyweight division and owns a remarkable 40-11-0 record. Standing six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, Volkov lands 4.78 significant strikes per minute at an efficiency of 57 percent, making him one of the more precise heavyweights on the roster.
Roman Kopylov faces Marco Tulio in what will be Kopylov's third straight fight against a Brazilian opponent. Tulio, 32, fights out of Chute Boxe Diego Lima and brings a 14-3-0 record into the bout. The Brazilian is an active mixed threat, posting 6.69 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy while also averaging 1.42 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Undefeated prospect Baisangur Susurkaev rounds out the Russian contingent, taking on Jordon Santos with a top-15 ranking in his sights.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's first title defense carries major divisional stakes in a stacked middleweight landscape
- Volkov's ranking as the number-one heavyweight contender means a strong performance could push him closer to a title shot
- Susurkaev's unbeaten record gives his bout with Santos the feel of a breakout opportunity at 185 pounds
Saturday, May 9, 2026
