The UFC has confirmed that UFC 328 will take place in Newark, New Jersey, on May 9, with a vacant light heavyweight title fight between Jiří Procházka and Carlos Ulberg headlining the card. The event marks the promotion’s return to Newark and continues its 2026 run after back‑to‑back numbered shows in January and the upcoming UFC 326 in Las Vegas. Procházka, a former champion known for his unorthodox style and knockouts, meets surging contender Ulberg in a bout that could reshape the 205‑pound landscape. Fans can also expect a flyweight title fight between Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira on the same card, giving the event major championship stakes.
The UFC has officially announced that UFC 328 will be held in Newark, New Jersey, on May 9, with a vacant light heavyweight championship bout between Jiří Procházka and Carlos Ulberg serving as the main event. The card also features a flyweight title defense, giving the evening two championship fights and significant divisional consequences at the top of the card.
Procházka, the former light heavyweight champion, enters the bout looking to reclaim gold at 205 pounds. The Czech fighter built his reputation on an unorthodox, high-volume attacking style and a string of highlight-reel knockouts that made him one of the most distinctive fighters in the division.
Ulberg, nicknamed "Black Jag," brings a 15-1-0 record and currently holds the number-three ranking at light heavyweight. The 35-year-old New Zealander out of City Kickboxing stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach and has developed into one of the division's most dangerous strikers, landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate. A win over Procházka would represent the biggest result of his career.
The co-main event brings together flyweight champion Joshua Van and ranked contender Tatsuro Taira. Van, just 24 years old and fighting out of Myanmar, carries a 17-2-0 record and is one of the most active strikers in the division at 8.84 significant strikes per minute, connecting at a 56 percent clip. The five-foot-five southpaw out of 4oz. Fight Club will face a legitimate grappling threat in Taira.
Taira, ranked fifth at flyweight, owns an 18-2-0 record and represents a sharp stylistic contrast to the champion. The 26-year-old Japanese fighter from The Blackbelt Japan averages 3.12 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.6 submission attempts, boasting a 60 percent striking accuracy that underscores his technical efficiency across both ranges.
Why it matters
- Procházka and Ulberg meet for a vacant belt, meaning a new champion is guaranteed at 205 pounds
- Ulberg's City Kickboxing pedigree and 77-inch reach make this a compelling stylistic test for the unorthodox Procházka
- Van faces the most serious grappling challenge of his young title reign in Taira
- Newark's return to the UFC calendar adds a major market to the promotion's 2026 schedule
