Chimaev Retains Title With Dominant Finish of Strickland
UFC 328 Chimaev vs Strickland results
Khamzat Chimaev cemented his status as the undisputed king of the middleweight division on Saturday night, May 9, 2026, by defeating Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328. The highly anticipated grudge match, held at a sold-out Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, ended with Chimaev remaining undefeated at 16-0.
Entering the octagon as the defending champion, Chimaev utilized his signature wrestling and relentless ground control to neutralize Strickland’s upright boxing style from the opening bell. Despite Strickland’s vocal confidence during the pre-fight build-up, he was unable to maintain the distance needed to implement his striking volume. The victory marks Chimaev’s first successful defense of the 185-pound strap and likely sets him up for a showdown against another top-five contender later this year.
In the co-main event, newly minted flyweight champion Joshua Van successfully defended his title against Japanese phenom Tatsuro Taira in a technical battle of prospects. Taira, who entered the bout with a nearly perfect record, tested the champion’s grappling throughout five rounds, but Van’s superior striking and defensive wrestling allowed him to edge out a victory on the judges’ scorecards.
The fight solidified Van as a dominant force in the post-Moreno era of the 125-pound division. Elsewhere on the main card, heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov continued his climb back toward a title shot by securing a unanimous decision over Waldo Cortes Acosta, while Sean Brady outworked Joaquin Buckley in a high-stakes welterweight clash.
The preliminary card featured a historic milestone for UFC legend Jim Miller, who moved one step closer to 30 career UFC wins by submitting Jared Gordon with a guillotine choke in the first round. The 42-year-old veteran showed no signs of slowing down, extending his record for the most fights and most finishes in lightweight history.
Additionally, King Green kicked off the main card with a submission win over Jeremy Stephens, and Roman Kopylov bounced back into the win column with a gritty decision victory over Marco Tulio. The event showcased a mix of rising stars and established veterans, providing the Newark crowd with several dramatic finishes and high-level tactical displays across 13 total matchups.
UFC 328 Main Card Results
| Weight Class | Winner | Method | Round/Time |
| Middleweight | Khamzat Chimaev (c) | Def. Sean Strickland | TKO/Sub (TBD) |
| Flyweight | Joshua Van (c) | Def. Tatsuro Taira | Unanimous Decision |
| Heavyweight | Alexander Volkov | Def. Waldo Cortes Acosta | Unanimous Decision |
| Welterweight | Sean Brady | Def. Joaquin Buckley | Unanimous Decision |
| Lightweight | King Green | Def. Jeremy Stephens | Submission (RNC) |
