Khamzat Chimaev will defend his title sooner than expected, but it will not be against the surging contender many fans anticipated.
Instead, the UFC has confirmed that Khamzat Chimaev vs Strickland will headline UFC 328 on May 9 at the Prudential Center.
The announcement came directly from Dana White, who revealed that former champion Sean Strickland will challenge Chimaev for the middleweight belt in the main event.
Chimaev captured the middleweight title with a commanding performance over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319, extending his undefeated record and solidifying his status as one of the most dangerous fighters in the sport.
Following the victory, Chimaev even teased a possible move up to light heavyweight. However, the champion will remain at 185 pounds for now as he prepares for the highly anticipated Khamzat Chimaev vs Strickland clash.
Many observers expected Nassourdine Imavov to get the next title opportunity after a strong run that included victories over top contenders such as Caio Borralho and Israel Adesanya.
However, the UFC opted for the blockbuster Khamzat Chimaev vs Strickland matchup instead. Chimaev previously downplayed the idea of fighting Imavov, noting that the two had trained together earlier in their careers.
The buildup to Khamzat Chimaev vs Strickland has already been heated. The two fighters have exchanged insults for months, turning the matchup into one of the most personal rivalries in the division.
“I wore him down in sparring,” Strickland claimed previously while discussing their past encounters at Xtreme Couture.
Chimaev, never one to back down from confrontation, has repeatedly fired back during the back-and-forth exchanges leading up to the fight.
The title opportunity may come as a surprise to some fans. Strickland suffered a lopsided loss to Du Plessis in their rematch at UFC 312, leading many to believe he would need multiple wins before earning another championship fight.
However, Strickland returned to form earlier this year with a victory over Anthony Hernandez, halting Hernandez’s rapid rise in the rankings and putting himself back in the title picture.
Now, Strickland will attempt to become a two-time champion when he faces the undefeated Chimaev.
The UFC also confirmed several major fights for the UFC 328 main card.
Joaquin Buckley will face Sean Brady in a high-stakes welterweight clash, while former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz returns to face Bogdan Guskov.
Veteran striker Jeremy Stephens will also make his return to the Octagon against Bobby Green.
