UFC 328 is bringing the heat to the East Coast this weekend, with two championship belts on the line in Newark, New Jersey. The action kicks off Saturday night at the Prudential Center, live on Paramount+, and our team of 10 editors, writers, radio hosts, and videographers have crunched the numbers to bring you their picks and analysis.
The main event features a clash of titans as the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) takes on former champion Sean Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC). Chimaev, ranked No. 1 and No. 3 pound-for-pound, enters as a heavy favorite at -650, while Strickland looks to pull off the upset at +460. Our team is unanimous: all 10 pick Chimaev to keep his perfect record intact.
In the co-main event, rising star Tatsuro Taira (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) faces off against the surging Maycee "The Future" Van (16-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC). This one's a split decision among our experts—six favor Van, while four lean toward Taira. The readers are slightly more confident in Taira, with 53% picking the Japanese standout.
The heavyweight division takes center stage as Marcos Rogério de Lima (17-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) battles Alexander Volkov (39-11 MMA, 13-5 UFC). Despite Volkov being the betting favorite at -150, our panel is all-in on de Lima, with a unanimous 10-0 pick in his favor. The readers agree, with 53% backing the Brazilian.
In the welterweight division, Sean Brady (18-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) squares off against Joaquin Buckley (21-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC). Brady gets the nod from seven of our experts, while three are riding with Buckley. The readers are also leaning Brady at 59%.
Opening the main card, the lightweight bout between Bobby Green (34-17-1 MMA, 15-12-1 UFC) and Jeremy Stephens (29-22 MMA, 15-19 UFC) has our team split eight to two in favor of Green. The readers are even more confident, with 78% picking the veteran.
Our top pickers this season include Danny Segura at 77-28, leading the pack, followed by Mike Bohn at 69-36. Whether you're looking for an upset or a safe bet, this card has something for every fight fan. Get ready for a night of high-stakes action in the Garden State.