UFC 328 Tonight: Strickland vs Chimaev Weigh-In Drama, Press Conference Chaos, and Full UFC Fight Card
The biggest UFC card of the spring is finally here. UFC 328 goes down tonight, May 9, 2026, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and the buildup has been anything but calm. Sean Strickland vs Khamzat Chimaev has already delivered fireworks before a single punch is thrown inside the Octagon.
UFC 328 Start Time and How to Watch the UFC Card Tonight
UFC 328: Chimaev vs Strickland takes place Saturday, May 9, at Prudential Center with the main card starting at 9 PM ET on Paramount+. The prelims begin at 7 PM ET, and the early prelims kick off at 5 PM ET on Paramount+ and UFC Fight Pass.
The venue marks a significant return for the promotion. The event marks the UFC's 12th visit to Newark and first since UFC 316 in June 2025. Tonight's event features two title fights, making the UFC card one of the most stacked of the year.
UFC 328 Fight Card: Full Breakdown
The UFC 328 fight card features two championship bouts headlining a deep night of action.
| Fight | Weight Class | Title? |
|---|---|---|
| Khamzat Chimaev vs Sean Strickland | Middleweight | UFC Title |
| Joshua Van vs Tatsuro Taira | Flyweight | UFC Title |
| Alexander Volkov vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta | Heavyweight | — |
| Sean Brady vs Joaquin Buckley | Welterweight | — |
| Grant Dawson vs Mateusz Rebecki | Lightweight | — |
| Joel Alvarez vs Yaroslav Amosov | Welterweight | — |
Van and Taira are set to make history as the first UFC title bout to ever feature two male Asian competitors.
Did Khamzat Make Weight? The Weigh-In Controversy Explained
The question everyone was asking Friday morning was answered — but not without drama. Both Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland hit their target numbers, each weighing in at 185 pounds for their UFC middleweight championship bout.
Reports suggested Chimaev had to cut a whopping 46 pounds for his first official title defense, so fight fans were nervous heading into the weigh-ins. Despite looking to be on death's door, Chimaev hit 185 pounds according to the New Jersey State Athletic Commission.
Not everyone was convinced. UFC veteran Bryce Mitchell took to social media claiming Chimaev never actually made weight and that those in power covered up a weight miss. "That dude didn't make that weight. There's no convincing me bro… it's all bull-," Mitchell wrote. The New Jersey State Athletic Commission has stood by the official result.
UFC 328 Press Conference: Chimaev Kicks Strickland in Wild Faceoff
The Strickland vs Chimaev UFC 328 press conference on Thursday was pure chaos. Even with police, extra security, and UFC CEO Dana White present, the rivals still got physical during Thursday's press conference face-off, trading barbs for almost the entire 30-minute run time.
As the two were brought face-to-face, Chimaev told Strickland, "I'm not going to touch you," and then landed a kick to Strickland's lower body. Strickland fell back and chaos broke loose as the two men were wrestled apart.
Strickland later took to social media to call the move "exactly what I expected a coward to do." Strickland also warned fans about Chimaev's wrestling style. "Who wants to watch this guy go dry hump everybody? You have this no personality, unlikable dog as a champion," he said.
Strickland vs Chimaev: The Backstory and Belt on the Line
The undefeated Chimaev is a heavy -550 favorite to retain the middleweight belt, which he won from Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 last August. The Strickland vs Chimaev fight will be Khamzat's first title defense.
Khamzat Chimaev enters at 15-0, fighting out of the United Arab Emirates by way of Chechnya, Russia. Sean Strickland stands at 30-7, fighting out of Corona, California, and enters as the No. 3 ranked contender. The two are former training partners turned bitter rivals, which has fueled every moment of this feud's promotion.
What's at Stake at UFC 328 Tonight
Chimaev is currently on a nine-match winning streak at the UFC, and records of previous champions suggest his reign could be tested. The viral pattern notes that Dricus du Plessis, Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, and Chris Weidman all saw their championship streaks end at this same mark.
Strickland vs Chimaev promises to be one of the year's most violent and personal title fights. Whether the grudge finally settles tonight inside the Prudential Center cage, MMA fans will not want to miss a second of the UFC fight tonight starting at 5 PM ET.
