UFC 328 set for Newark double-header as Chimaev and Van defend titles
Khamzat Chimaev faces former champion Sean Strickland in the main event, while Joshua Van makes his first title defence against Tatsuro Taira on the co-main card
UFC 328 is scheduled to take place in Newark, New Jersey, headlined by a double-header title fight card. The event will see Khamzat Chimaev defend the middleweight championship against former champion Sean Strickland, while Joshua Van attempts his first title defence of the flyweight strap against Tatsuro Taira. Preliminary bouts are set to commence on Sunday evening, with the main card following later in the day.
The main event narrative is defined by a tense build-up between Chimaev and Strickland. Chimaev, who is viewed as a comfortable favourite, secured the middleweight title in August by dominating Dricus Du Plessis. In contrast, Strickland has twice outpointed Chimaev in previous encounters, creating a storyline that has raised concerns regarding potential pre-fight violence.
In the co-main event, Joshua Van defends the flyweight belt against Tatsuro Taira. Van won the title five months prior under unique circumstances after the reigning champion, Alexandre Pantoja, was forced to withdraw due to an injury sustained early in their scheduled bout. This marks Van's first opportunity to defend the strap he captured in those unusual conditions.
The full undercard matchups have been confirmed to accompany the title fights. The card includes heavyweight action between Alexander Volkov and Waldo Cortes-Acosta, a welterweight clash between Sean Brady and Joaquin Buckley, and a lightweight bout featuring King Green against Jeremy Stephens. Additional contests on the preliminary card include Ateba Gautier versus Ozzy Diaz and Joel Alvarez versus Yaroslav Amosov.
Broadcast details for the event have been outlined for international audiences. In the UK, the main card will air live on TNT Sports and is accessible via HBO Max, EE TV, Virgin Media, Amazon Prime Video, and Sky Sports. Early and regular preliminaries will stream live on UFC Fight Pass for viewers in that region.
For audiences in the United States, the action will stream on Paramount+. The timing of the broadcast windows is specific, with early prelims beginning at 10pm BST on Sunday, followed by regular prelims at 12am BST, and the main card concluding at 2am BST.
