Overview
- Khamzat Chimaev is set to defend the UFC middleweight title against Sean Strickland on May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark.
- Luke Rockhold, who recently trained with Chimaev, called Strickland a “piece of sh*t” and predicted a Chimaev “masterclass” that would “put this [expletive] American away.”
- Rockhold’s stance carries history because he was once booked to face Strickland in 2021 before withdrawing with a herniated disc.
- MMA Fighting highlights Strickland’s abrasive public image, noting past offensive remarks about the LGBTQ+ community and claims that women should not be allowed to vote.
- MMAmania reports sluggish UFC 328 ticket sales, citing a Ticketmaster screenshot that shows the cheapest upper‑deck seats at about $386, while Bloody Elbow notes Kamaru Usman’s idea that Chimaev could chase Magomed Ankalaev at light heavyweight if he defends, with champion Carlos Ulberg sidelined after ACL surgery.