The Octagon descends upon the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, tonight for a blockbuster UFC 328 fight card, and the stakes have never been higher. With two championship bouts headlining the event, Saturday, May 9 promises to be a night of high-octane action that no fight fan will want to miss.
In the main event, undefeated middleweight kingpin Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev (15-0) looks to make his first title defense against a familiar foe—former 185-pound champion Sean Strickland. The tension has been palpable since their intense face-off at the pre-fight press conference, and the stage is set for a grudge match that could define the division. In the co-main event, flyweight champion Joshua Van puts his belt on the line against the surging Tatsuro Taira, promising fireworks from start to finish.
The UFC's return to New Jersey marks its first visit since June 2025's UFC 316, and the Garden State faithful are ready to roar. Here's how to catch all the action:
Early Preliminary Card: 5:00 p.m. ET on Paramount+
Preliminary Card: 7:00 p.m. ET on Paramount+
Main Card: Follows prelims on Paramount+
Full Fight Card:
Main Event: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland (Middleweight Title)
Co-Main Event: Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira (Flyweight Title)
Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley
King Green vs. Jeremy Stephens
Ateba Gautier vs. Osman Diaz
Joel Álvarez vs. Yaroslav Amosov
Grant Dawson vs. Mateusz Rębecki
Jim Miller vs. Jared Gordon
Roman Kopylov vs. Marco Tulio
Pat Sabatini vs. William Gomis
Baisangur Susurkaev vs. Djorden Santos
Clayton Carpenter vs. Jose Ochoa
Chimaev's rise to the top has been nothing short of meteoric. Since his UFC debut in July 2020—where he submitted John Phillips in the second round—the Chechen-born powerhouse has shattered records. He followed that win with a first-round TKO of Rhys McKee just 10 days later, setting a modern-era record for the fastest turnaround between UFC victories. Then, in September 2020, he knocked out Gerald Meerschaert in emphatic fashion.
While a highly anticipated matchup with Leon Edwards was repeatedly derailed by COVID-19, Chimaev returned to the Octagon in October 2021 and made quick work of Li Jingliang. Now, as a reigning champion, he faces his toughest test yet against Strickland, a former champ known for his relentless pressure and granite chin.
Whether you're gearing up for the fights in your favorite gear or just settling in for a night of unforgettable battles, UFC 328 is the kind of event that reminds us why mixed martial arts continues to captivate the world. Don't blink.