Overview
- UFC 328 headlines with Khamzat Chimaev’s first middleweight title defense against former champion Sean Strickland on May 9 at Newark’s Prudential Center.
- Colby Covington said Chimaev will take Strickland down and submit him, pointing to reported 2022 Xtreme Couture sparring that a media witness said was not competitive.
- Chael Sonnen countered that a quick finish would surprise him and called Strickland built for long, hard fights as an underdog.
- Joe Pyfer laid out a plan to upset Chimaev that starts with shutting down takedowns for the first 10 minutes by staying low, changing levels, and firing straight shots.
- Strickland earned the shot by stopping Anthony Hernandez, and their past Xtreme Couture rounds feed a real rivalry as the result could set the next move for contenders such as Nassourdine Imavov.