Overview
- UFC 328 will headline with Khamzat Chimaev defending the middleweight belt against Sean Strickland on May 9 in Newark, New Jersey.
- Strickland enlisted former Bellator champion Johnny Eblen to boost his wrestling prep for Chimaev’s takedown-heavy style, with Eblen planning to join camp after his March 28 PFL bout against Bryan Battle.
- Joe Rogan urged the UFC to drop its new pre-fight face-off segment for this event, citing recent face-offs with little security and the pair’s hostile exchanges.
- UFC analyst Din Thomas warned the buildup could turn ugly and said the promotion may need extra security because of how Chimaev or his entourage might react to Strickland’s trash talk.
- The booking drew criticism from peers, with Belal Muhammad saying Strickland talked his way into the shot over five-fight winner Nassourdine Imavov.