Sean Strickland challenges Khamzat Chimaev for the UFC middleweight title in the main event of UFC 328 on May 9. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images)
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Controversial former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has an opportunity to regain the 185-pound title on Saturday in Newark, New Jersey, but he has a stiff test on his hands. Strickland will challenge reigning middleweight king and undefeated boogeyman Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 328.
These two men have constructed a bad-blood build toward their clash of epic proportions. Strickland comes in as a massive underdog and the stakes couldn’t be higher for him. Here’s everything you need to know about Strickland’s next fight.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Event: UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland
- Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026
- Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
- Main Card Start: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
- Prelims: 7 p.m. ET | Early Prelims: 5 p.m. ET
- Strickland’s Record: 30-7
- Strickland’s Odds: +410 underdog
- U.S. Stream: Paramount+
- U.K. Broadcast: TNT Sports 1 / HBO Max (main card 2 a.m. BST Sunday)
When Is Sean Strickland’s Next Fight?
The main card kicks off at 9 p.m. ET, with Strickland and Chimaev expected to walk between 10:30 and 11 p.m. ET, depending on how earlier bouts run.
For U.K. fans, the broadcast runs late, with prelims starting at midnight BST and the main card at 2 a.m. BST on Sunday morning. If you’re searching this on Saturday in the U.S., Strickland fights tonight, headlining the card.
Who Is Sean Strickland Fighting at UFC 328?
Strickland is challenging the undefeated Chimaev in a five-round title bout. Chimaev enters 15-0 with a 9-0 UFC mark, coming off a one-sided title win over Dricus du Plessis that was so dominant, it pushed him into the pound-for-pound conversation despite only having major success in one weight class.
Strickland (30-7) is the ex-champ who shocked Israel Adesanya as a heavy underdog in 2023 before losing the belt to du Plessis. He earned this shot by stopping grappler Anthony Hernandez in February and now sits at +410 to Chimaev’s -550 favorite price, per CBS Sports’ opening lines.
How Can You Watch Sean Strickland’s Next Fight?
In the United States, UFC 328 streams live on Paramount+ with no additional pay-per-view fee. The full schedule runs early prelims at 5 p.m. ET, prelims at 7 p.m. ET, and main card at 9 p.m. ET, with Strickland vs. Chimaev closing the night.
In the United Kingdom, prelims begin at midnight BST and the main card kicks off at 2 a.m. BST on Sunday, with TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max carrying the broadcast. Most other supported markets get the card via Paramount+ at the same ET schedule, with local time conversion required.
What’s Next for Strickland After UFC 328?
If Strickland pulls the upset, the entire middleweight conversation flips. A win over Chimaev sets up either an immediate rematch with Chimaev, a DDP trilogy or another high-profile title defense, and it instantly resets his case as one of the most disruptive champions of the modern 185-pound era.
If he loses, this is likely his cleanest shot at the belt for the foreseeable future, and he’d probably slot into a high-end gatekeeper role against rising contenders rather than getting stacked back into another title fight.
Either outcome keeps him central to a middleweight division that’s been one of the UFC’s most volatile in years.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com