Four Russian fighters will compete at UFC 328 in Newark. Khamzat Chimaev will make his first title defense against Sean Strickland in the main event. Alexander Volkov will face Waldo Cortes-Acosta in another heavyweight contender bout. Roman Kopylov will meet Brazilian striker Marco Tulio, marking his third consecutive fight against a Brazilian opponent. Baysangur Susurkaev, who remains undefeated, will take on Jorden Santos as he attempts to break into the top 15 rankings. The post wished all four Russian competitors good luck.
Four Russian fighters will carry their country's flag into UFC 328 in Newark on May 9, 2026, headlined by a middleweight title fight and supported by three undercard bouts with significant divisional implications.
Khamzat Chimaev, nicknamed "Borz," steps into the octagon for the first defense of his middleweight title against Sean Strickland. The 32-year-old, who fights out of Allstars Training Center and represents the United Arab Emirates, carries a 15-1 record and sits tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. Chimaev is one of the most dangerous wrestlers in the division, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, and connects on 60 percent of his significant strikes. He faces a formidable challenger in Strickland, the 35-year-old American champion out of Xtreme Couture who holds a 31-7 record. Strickland is one of the busiest strikers in the sport, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute across his career.
Alexander Volkov, the towering Russian known as "Drago," enters as the number-one ranked heavyweight contender. The 37-year-old stands six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach and brings a 40-11 record into his bout against Waldo Cortes-Acosta. Volkov converts 57 percent of his significant strikes, a notable accuracy mark for a heavyweight.
Roman Kopylov faces Brazilian striker Marco Tulio in what will be his third straight fight against a Brazilian opponent, a unique streak that adds an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup.
Undefeated prospect Baysangur Susurkaev takes on Jorden Santos with a clear objective: a strong performance that pushes him into the top 15 of his division.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's first title defense tests whether his dominant wrestling translates to championship-level opposition in Strickland
- Volkov's contender bout at heavyweight could sharpen or complicate the picture at the top of a crowded division
- Susurkaev's undefeated record gives his bout genuine ranking stakes in the lower tier of his weight class
Saturday, May 9, 2026
