The middleweight title picture has a clear direction. Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland has been announced as the headliner for UFC 328, scheduled for May 9 in Newark, New Jersey. Naturally, fight fans are excited.
Earlier today, Dana White announced the next six events before the White House card this summer. While most were Fight Night events, UFC 328 was a major reveal.
Chimaev had hinted at Strickland as his next opponent in a recent post on X. Sure enough, the build-up is bound to be explosive. In the past, both have stated that they dominated the other in sparring.
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Furthermore, ‘Tarzan’s press conferences are anything but mellow. At the UFC Houston post-fight presser, the American’s mic was even cut off after he went on an all-out rant about Chimaev.
Suffice it to say, fight fans are excited for UFC 328, with a few caveats.
@tylerttapia wrote:
“Should’ve been on the White House card.”
@knockout commented:
“IMAGINE THE SCENES IF SEAN CHINS HIM.”
@westtilldeath chimed in:
“Press Conference will be cancelled immediately.”
@kdub1an opined:
“Easiest win of Khamzat’s career.”
Check out a few more comments below:
Chimaev was most recently seen clinching the 185-pound title in a lopsided unanimous decision win over former champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319. ‘Borz’ is currently away from the sport and will be back in training once Ramadan ends.
Strickland earned a third-round knockout win over the dangerous Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston in February. He is a former middleweight champion with wins over the likes of Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov.
UFC 328: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland: opening odds
It is no surprise that champion Khamzat Chimaev has opened as the clear betting favorite for UFC 328. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, ‘Borz’ is currently a -410 prohibitive favorite, with Strickland listed as a +320 underdog.
According to the current odds, a successful $100 bet on Chimaev will return a payout of $124.39, while the same bet on the underdog will result in a more lucrative payout of $420 if Strickland gets his hand raised.
Apart from the middleweight title clash in the main event, UFC 328 will also feature heavyweights Alexander Volkov and Waldo Cortes-Acosta in the co-main event spot. A welterweight barnburner between Sean Brady and Joaquin Buckley has also been included on the main card.
Edited by Ujwal Jain
