Newark, May 9, 2026, 10:11 EDT
- Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland each hit 185 pounds at the scales, so Saturday’s UFC middleweight title fight in Newark is still a go.
- The run-up to UFC 328 turned tense when Chimaev landed a kick on Strickland during Thursday’s promo faceoff, raising genuine security worries.
- DraftKings kept Chimaev a strong favorite, posting him at -520 early Saturday, according to a CBS Sports update.
Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland both hit the scales on target Saturday, locking in Chimaev’s first UFC middleweight title defense for UFC 328. Tensions flared ahead of the bout—a press-conference kick and extra layers of security ratcheted up the suspense around the main event.
This fight tops the bill at UFC 328, set for Prudential Center, with the main card kicking off around 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+. Chimaev heads in as the reigning 185-pound champ after taking the belt from Dricus du Plessis last August. Strickland, who knocked out Anthony Hernandez in February, is looking to reclaim the title.
The UFC now has a grudge match with real heat, the feud already leaking outside the promotion. During Thursday’s staredown, with UFC CEO Dana White separating them, Chimaev kicked Strickland in the shin, ESPN reported. White told both fighters to cut it out. Strickland didn’t seem hurt, according to ESPN.
Weigh-ins on Friday locked in the main matchups: Chimaev and Strickland both registered 185 pounds. Over at flyweight, champion Joshua Van and challenger Tatsuro Taira each made the 125-pound mark for their co-main clash. Jeremy Stephens, though, came in heavy at 160—four pounds over the lightweight limit for his fight against King Green. As a result, the UFC confirmed he’ll lose 30% of his purse, with the bout now official at catchweight.
Oddsmakers haven’t given Strickland much of a shot, pegging this as Chimaev’s to lose. According to CBS Sports, DraftKings priced Chimaev at -520—bettors would need to risk $520 for a $100 payout—with Strickland at +390. Just the day before, CBS pointed to DraftKings odds of Chimaev -575, Strickland +425.
This one’s pretty straightforward: can Strickland keep Chimaev off him, or will he end up stuck under the Chechen for big chunks of the fight? CBS Sports’ Brian Campbell pointed out Strickland’s “stingy takedown defense” might give Chimaev trouble, but still sided with Chimaev by decision. Brent Brookhouse was even firmer, labeling Chimaev’s grappling “truly outstanding” and picking a submission finish in the first round. CBS Sports
White hasn’t shied away from the feud. On Nina Drama’s Kick stream, he called Chimaev-Strickland “one of the worst cases of bad blood ever,” MMA Fighting reported. He put it at number three among UFC rivalries, only behind Khabib Nurmagomedov-Conor McGregor and Jon Jones-Daniel Cormier. After Thursday’s incident, White remarked, “That’s the most we will fail this weekend.” MMA Fighting
Chimaev-Strickland isn’t the only storyline. Van’s title defense against Taira adds another championship matchup, and there’s more division among CBS analysts on the flyweight pick than on the main event. Every one of the five CBS Sports forecasters is backing Chimaev in the middleweight clash with Strickland.
There’s a risk the turbulence spills over past weigh-ins. ESPN reported the New Jersey Athletic Control Board hadn’t said if Chimaev would face any consequences for the kick; as of this day, no punishment announced, and the fight was still on. If the commission steps in late, or tempers flare again, or Strickland drags it into a slow, drawn-out decision, the narrative—straight favorite against underdog—gets tossed out.
UFC’s got its headliner: Chimaev, undefeated in 15 bouts, goes up against Strickland—30 wins, 7 losses, still a threat in a five-rounder. The middleweight title’s on the line. Security? Possibly just as crucial before things kick off as the game plan once the fight’s underway.
