UFC 328 main event set: Chimaev faces Strickland in Newark title bout
The five-bout card airs live on Paramount+ at 9 p.m. ET, with Chimaev entering as the -590 favourite following his unanimous decision victory over Dricus du Plessis.
Defending middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is scheduled to face third-ranked contender Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328. The bout is set for Saturday, 9 May, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The five-bout main card is scheduled to air live on Paramount+ at approximately 9 p.m. ET.
Chimaev enters the fight as the -590 favourite following his unanimous decision victory over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319. Strickland comes off a knockout win against Anthony Hernandez. Current DraftKings odds list Chimaev at -590 and Strickland at +390.
The event is part of the UFC numbered series, which is streamed exclusively on Paramount+. Chimaev, 32, holds a perfect 15-0 record in his career, including nine wins since joining the UFC. He is the first Chechen-born fighter to win a UFC championship and holds several UFC records for total strikes landed.
Strickland, 35, has a 30-7 career record and is a former UFC middleweight champion. He recorded the 2024 Upset of the Year against Israel Adesanya. Expert analyst Kyle Marley has released betting predictions for the card, though his specific recommendation for the main event winner is withheld behind a paywall.
Marley is backing Pat Sabatini (-180) to defeat William Gomis (+150) via submission in a featherweight bout on the early preliminary card. He predicts Sabatini will dominate once the fight moves to the mat, citing Gomis's need to keep the action on the feet. Full detailed picks and analysis from Marley regarding the main event and other bouts are available exclusively via a subscription to SportsLine.
