Newark plays host to UFC for the eleventh time, with UFC 328 taking place at the Prudential Center. The event is headlined by Khamzat Chimaev defending his middleweight title against Sean Strickland.
Chimaev vs Strickland for Middleweight Title
Khamzat Chimaev makes his first title defence since claiming the middleweight belt last August. He faces former champion Sean Strickland. Chimaev won the title at UFC 319 with a dominant display against Dricus Du Plessis. Du Plessis had no answer for Chimaev’s wrestling and top position game.
Strickland earned his title shot with a strong performance against Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez in February. He secured a third-round stoppage win, showing greater urgency and aggression. Since shockingly defeating Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 to win the title, Strickland has lost his last two championship bouts.
The fight hinges on Strickland’s ability to pressure Chimaev and defend takedowns. Strickland’s forward movement and steady output could trouble Chimaev’s grappling. If Strickland can’t get Chimaev moving backwards and land with impact, he could suffer the same fate as Du Plessis.
Van vs Taira Co-Main Event
Joshua Van defends the flyweight title against Tatsuro Taira in the co-main event. The fight was originally scheduled for UFC 327 but now takes place in Newark. Van is looking to continue his impressive form after winning the title.
Stacked Card in Newark
- Main Event: Khamzat Chimaev vs Sean Strickland
- Co-Main Event: Joshua Van vs Tatsuro Taira
- Location: Prudential Center — Newark, New Jersey
UFC 328 looks set to be one of the year’s best fight cards.