Sean Strickland is set to challenge middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 328, with the title fight booked for May 9, 2026, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The matchup pits Strickland, described as a legitimate world champion accustomed to five-round fights, against Chimaev, who currently holds the middleweight belt. UFC 328 will see Strickland bring a 79% takedown defense rate into the cage, while Chimaev enters with a 55% takedown success rate.
Joe Rogan has publicly backed Strickland as a real threat in the matchup. "Strickland is one of the best fighters on planet Earth — so is Khamzat," Rogan said, later adding, "But Strickland is also a legitimate world champion. He’s a guy who’s accustomed to five-rounders. He’s got phenomenal cardio. He’s one of the hardest guys to hit in the sport. One-hundred percent, he has a shot. (He has) underrated grappling. Listen to me as an expert, allegedly: He’s got some of the best takedown defense in the game, underrated grappling. Strickland has a legit chance."
Recent history adds another layer to the wrestling battle at UFC 328. Dricus du Plessis scored six takedowns against Strickland in their UFC 297 title fight in early 2024, while Chimaev set a career high for takedowns against du Plessis in their UFC 319 main event in Chicago.
