Overview
- UFC CEO Dana White officially announced Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland as the UFC 328 main event on May 9 at Newark’s Prudential Center.
- The card features a heavyweight co-main event of Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, plus Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley and Jan Blachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov.
- Strickland, a former champion, secured the shot after a third-round TKO of Anthony Hernandez on Feb. 21.
- The matchup drew criticism from observers who expected Nassourdine Imavov to be next based on his recent run, highlighting debate over merit versus marketability.
- Chimaev enters unbeaten at 15-0 for his first title defense since dethroning Dricus du Plessis, shelving talk of a light heavyweight move as early betting lists him a heavy favorite.