Middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is slated to make his inaugural title defense at UFC 328 on May 9. The event, hosted at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, will feature ‘Borz’ headlining against his formidable rival and former titleholder, Sean Strickland. UFC CEO Dana White officially confirmed this major matchup on Thursday.
Chimaev (15-0), maintaining an unblemished record, secured the 185-pound championship last August at UFC 319 with a dominant victory over then-champion Dricus du Plessis. Strickland (30-7), meanwhile, recently bounced back from his own loss to du Plessis, earning a bonus-winning TKO victory over Anthony Hernandez in February.
A compelling backstory adds significant intrigue to this clash: Chimaev and Strickland, once training partners, have evolved into bitter adversaries, frequently exchanging verbal jabs on social media and in interviews. Strickland has publicly asserted his belief that he is the sole fighter in the middleweight division capable of defeating Chimaev, and UFC 328 will now grant him the opportunity to prove that assertion.
This upcoming event will mark the twelfth occasion the UFC promotion has held a card in Newark.