Khamzat Chimaev is scheduled to make his inaugural defense of the middleweight championship against Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328. The highly anticipated bout will take place on May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark. This marks “Borz’s” return to action after recovering from a minor foot injury and observing Ramadan, with fans now eager for his next fight.
Initially, there were rumors that Chimaev would face the No. 2-ranked 185-pound contender, Nassourdine Imavov, who boasts a five-fight winning streak. However, Sean Strickland’s dominant performance against Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston unexpectedly fast-tracked him to a title shot.
UFC 328 Main Card Highlights:
- Khamzat Chimaev (UFC middleweight champion) vs. Sean Strickland (middleweight title bout)
- Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (heavyweight bout)
- Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley (welterweight bout)
- Jan Blachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov (light-heavyweight bout)
- King Green vs. Jeremy Stephens (lightweight bout)
- Ateba Gautier vs. Ozzy Diaz (middleweight bout)
Dana White Jokes About Potential Chaos at Chimaev vs. Strickland Presser
Following the announcement of upcoming fight cards, UFC President Dana White shared his thoughts on the UFC 328 main event between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland. He remarked:
“It’s a fun card, and obviously, the main event of the fight that people have been waiting for a long time. Strickland looked incredible in his last performance.”
The possibility of increased security for the pre-UFC 328 press conferences is largely due to Strickland’s recent controversial statements concerning Chimaev and the Muslim community. Given the growing animosity and constant social media exchanges between “Borz” and “Tarzan,” there’s a tangible concern that tensions could escalate into a physical confrontation at any moment.
White further quipped during the discussion:
“How much security you think we’re gonna need for Chimaev vs. Strickland?”
Responding to White’s rhetorical question, former UFC champion Michael Bisping humorously agreed, stating:
“Quite a lot, Dana. You need to hire some extra people.”
