The heat was already on — now Chimaev vs. Strickland is official for UFC 328

The rivalry was already boiling long before the announcement. Two fighters who couldn’t be more different — in style, ideology, personality, and the way they carry themselves. Now it’s official: Khamzat Chimaev will make his first welterweight title defense against former champion Sean Strickland on May 9, headlining UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey, as Dana White confirmed overnight (Eastern Time).

Chimaev: a fan favorite for very different reasons

Khamzat Chimaev has become one of the UFC’s most popular fighters, though not for the same reasons as stars like Charles Oliveira or Max Holloway. The Chechen‑born, Sweden‑raised, now UAE‑naturalized powerhouse is genuinely terrifying inside the cage. Opponents leave with smashed jaws, broken teeth, and bloodied eyes — all courtesy of his freakish strength and suffocating grappling. When Chimaev gets on top of someone, it’s like being trapped under a soaked blanket.

He took the belt from Dricus du Plessis in August with a dominant unanimous decision, controlling the fight from start to finish. Du Plessis had won the title by beating Strickland — and even defended it successfully against him.

Strickland: The Complete Opposite in Every Way

Sean Strickland is known for being everything Chimaev is not. He has openly spoken about a traumatic childhood marked by abuse and alcoholism at home, and he has a documented history of extremist affiliations in his youth. His public comments often spark outrage — his most recent controversy involved racist remarks aimed at Bad Bunny.

Strickland has already started the trash talk. “You can’t have a terrorist as champion. Unfortunately, I think I’m the only one who can change that,”he said recently.

He insists Chimaev’s grappling doesn’t worry him at all. “Man, Dricus took him down a bunch of times. How’s he gonna take me down? Come on. I beat this guy everywhere — striking, everything. He talks too much. He’s funny, though. He’s training with Paulo Costa now. I put those two together,” Strickland added.

A press conference that’s going to be fun

With personalities this explosive — and a rivalry this personal — the UFC 328 press conference is shaping up to be absolute chaos. And fans wouldn’t have it any other way.

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