Khamzat Chimaev Vs Sean Strickland LIVE Blog, UFC 328: Middleweight Bad Blood Boils Over As Newark Braces For Title War

Main Card Results

• Welterweight: Joaquin Buckley def. Sean Brady via TKO (Strikes), Round 2. In a significant upset, Buckley's explosive power overcame Brady's grappling, notably following late betting shifts that saw Buckley become a heavy favorite.

• Lightweight: King Green def. Jeremy Stephens via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28). Green utilized his superior movement and volume to outwork Stephens in their 160-pound catchweight clash.

Preliminary Card Results

• Jim Miller def. Jared Gordon via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Round 1. The Newark native sent the home crowd into a frenzy with a quick finish, extending his record for the most wins in UFC history.

• Grant Dawson def. Mateusz Rębecki via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28). Dawson’s relentless wrestling proved to be the difference-maker.

• Joel Álvarez def. Yaroslav Amosov via TKO (Punches), Round 3. A brutal performance from the Spaniard against the highly-touted former Bellator champion.

• Ateba Gautier def. Ozzy Diaz via KO (Punch), Round 1.

Early Preliminary Results

• Roman Kopylov def. Marco Tulio via KO (Head Kick), Round 2.

• Pat Sabatini def. William Gomis via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 1.

• Baisangur Susurkaev def. Djorden Santos via Unanimous Decision.

• Clayton Carpenter def. Jose Ochoa via Technical Submission (Brabo Choke), Round 2.

The UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland card at the Prudential Center is one of the most stacked lineups of the year, featuring two world title fights and a mix of veteran legends and rising contenders.

Here is the full fight card for tonight's event in Newark:

Main Card

• Middleweight: Khamzat Chimaev (c) vs. Sean Strickland

• Flyweight: Joshua Van (c) vs. Tatsuro Taira

• Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta

• Welterweight: Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley

• Lightweight: King Green vs. Jeremy Stephens (Catchweight: 160 lbs)

Preliminary Card

• Lightweight: Ateba Gautier vs. Ozzy Diaz

• Lightweight: Joel Álvarez vs. Yaroslav Amosov

• Lightweight: Grant Dawson vs. Mateusz Rębecki

• Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. Jared Gordon

Early Prelims

• Middleweight: Roman Kopylov vs. Marco Tulio

• Featherweight: Pat Sabatini vs. William Gomis

• Middleweight: Baisangur Susurkaev vs. Djorden Santos

• Flyweight: Clayton Carpenter vs. Jose Ochoa

Sean Strickland enters tonight’s title clash at the Prudential Center in arguably the sharpest form of his career. Currently boasting a record of 30-7, the former champion has successfully silenced critics who questioned his durability after his 2025 title loss to Dricus du Plessis.

Strickland delivered a masterclass against the streaking Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez. After controlling the distance with his signature jab for two rounds, Strickland finished the fight in the third with a devastating knee to the midsection followed by a barrage of strikes. It was his first stoppage victory since 2023, earning him a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus.

In his recent bouts, Strickland has maintained an incredible defensive efficiency, absorbing significantly less damage than the average middleweight. His ability to neutralize grappling-heavy opponents (as seen against Hernandez) is the primary reason many experts believe he is the "Chimaev Antidote."

Strickland remains the most outspoken and unpredictable personality in the sport. Entering Newark, he has leaned into the "bad blood" narrative, famously promising to "take Chimaev into deep water and see if he can swim".

Unlike the champion, Strickland’s weight cut was reportedly effortless, and he enters the Octagon with a clear cardio advantage. His game plan is no secret: survive the initial "Borz" hurricane, use his teep kicks and Pharaoh-stance defense to frustrate the champion, and drag the fight into the fourth and fifth rounds where Chimaev’s gas tank has historically been questioned.

Khamzat Chimaev enters the Prudential Center in a state of peak physical dominance, yet under a cloud of characteristically high-stakes drama. Holding a perfect 15-0 record, the middleweight champion is currently riding a wave of momentum that saw him dismantle Dricus du Plessis to capture the gold last August.

Despite his dominant form, Chimaev's arrival in Newark was far from smooth. He hit the 185-pound limit with only minutes to spare, reigniting long-standing concerns about his ability to manage the middleweight cut healthily.

Reports from his camp at Tiger Muay Thai describe a terrifying four-session-per-day training cycle. Leaks from his sparring sessions suggest he is currently out-wrestling Olympic-level specialists, indicating that his grappling strength has only increased since winning the title.

Borz as abandoned his earlier promises of a calm fight week. After allegedly kicking Strickland during a face-off, it’s clear Chimaev is entering the cage in a high-aggression headspace, looking to secure his fifth UFC submission and prove his cardio can hold up in his first five-round title defense.

The UFC Fight Night 328 is being headlined by the main event featuring Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jerseys. Stay tuned and follow along for the real time updates, live results and more.