Five reasons to watch UFC 328, featuring Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland for the middleweight title.

Chimaev kicks Strickland at the UFC press conference. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

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After Khamzat Shimaev e Sean Strickland After exchanging constant threats, provocations and insults, the day has arrived for one of the most anticipated MMA confrontations to take place. This Saturday (9), the declared rivals will measure forces in the main fight of UFC 328The event takes place in New Jersey (USA), and the expectation is that the tense atmosphere will continue during and after the event, such is the existing rivalry. In the octagon, the Chechen champion seeks to make his first title defense in the middleweight division (up to 83,9 kg), while the American aims to regain the belt.

But anyone who thinks that is mistaken. UFC 328 The event features only the clash between 'mortal enemies' as a highlight. In total, the event consists of 13 fights and will include the 'Brazilian Squad', which will be represented by two professionals. The preliminary card... Djorden Santos e Marcus Tullius Matuto enter the fray for the middleweight title. To get in the mood, the team from SUPER FIGHTS selected five reasons to follow the show.

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1) Historic rivalry in the main fight

Strickland threatens Chimaev at the UFC press conference. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

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While many MMA rivalries are more commercial than genuine, the animosity between Khamzat Shimaev e Sean Strickland It is, in fact, real. In fact, Dana White already considers it the second biggest in UFC history. This is because the athletes, who trained at the 'Xtreme Couture' gym, began to disagree about the activity.

Strickland criticized the Chechen's behavior in sparring sessions, calling him a bully for punishing smaller and weaker athletes. The veteran went further, claiming he tired the bad boy out in training and punished him to the point of giving up. In turn, Chimaev denied being a bad partner and asserted that he submitted the American more than once and with ease. To make matters worse, the top middleweight fighters constantly cross the line with trash talk, resorting to personal attacks and focusing on sensitive issues completely outside the realm of martial arts.

In fact, during the face-off at the pre-press conference...UFC 328Chimaev didn't miss the opportunity and delivered a kick to the former champion's groin. Therefore, if the atmosphere before the fight is already tense and worrying, during and after it, the worst could happen between the athletes and their team members, reminiscent of the chaos caused by... Conor McGregor e Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018.

2) Beating or miracle?

Chimaev threatens Strickland at the UFC weigh-in. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

Focusing solely on the octagon, the quality of Chimaev and Strickland is unquestionable. The former is a feared champion and is undefeated in MMA, while the latter is the former title holder and has victories against big names. Known for his overwhelming pressure and high level of wrestling, the Chechen is the overwhelming favorite to win the highly anticipated fight. However, the American is seen by many as one of the few athletes who can still cause problems for 'Borz', as he possesses high-level boxing, impeccable physical conditioning, and good takedown defense.

As he was criticized by many in his last fight for winning Dricus du Plessis By simply controlling him and not causing significant damage, the tendency is for Chimaev, given their history of rivalry, to act aggressively against the American and seek a submission or technical knockout on the ground. In turn, Strickland, who comes into the fight riding high after his great performance against... anthony hernandezHe ignores his underdog status and predicts that the Chechen will suffer the same fate, that is, he will be knocked out. At least the veteran has no shortage of determination to shock the world.

3) Youngsters rule the flies

In December, the veteran Alexandre pantoja, 36 years old, suffered an arm injury during the fight against Joshua Van He finished just 26 seconds into the fight and, unable to compete, saw his reign crumble. Thus, the 24-year-old Burmese fighter became the flyweight champion (up to 57 kg) and will now defend his title for the first time against... Tatsuro Taira, 26 years old. Therefore, the title fight between athletes born in the 2000s marks a new era in the category.

Van is the first UFC champion born in the 2000s and who comes from Myanmar. Taira could become the first Japanese fighter to hold the company's belt. Interestingly, the title challenger is favored by bookmakers to win. His specialty is Jiu-Jitsu. The champion's strength lies in striking, relying on a high volume of blows. Therefore, the expectation is that the pair will deliver a true battle, which could steal the show.

4) Other highlights

In addition to the two title fights, the UFC 328 Tampen has important matchups, and two of them are in the welterweight division (up to 77,1 kg). On the main card, the grappler Sean brady and the striker Joaquin buckley saw their long winning streaks come to an end in their last fight because MichaelMorales e Kamaru Usmanrespectively, but they remain on the rise. In fact, the athlete who manages to recover will be back in the race to compete for the weight class belt.

Also in the division, but on the preliminary card, Yaroslav Amosov, former Bellator king, faces the always exciting... Joel alvarez, who has only one of his 23 wins by decision. As both athletes are well-rounded and experienced, the expectation is for a high-level fight that will change the status of the winner in the division.

Gautier smiles during training. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/atebagautierofficiel

Also worth keeping an eye on is Ateba Gautier, who competes in the middleweight division. The Cameroonian is undefeated in the UFC and is seen by many as a kind of new star. Francis Ngannou, due to his exceptional physique and overwhelming power. Therefore, the expectation is that 'The Silent Assassin' will deliver another brutal and devastating knockout in the UFC, this time against Ozzy Diaz.

5) Brazilians in action

In the preliminary card, Matuto and Djorden are experiencing contrasting moments in their careers. The former suffered his first defeat in his last fight, via brutal knockout, and aims to erase the bad impression left by his opponent. Christian Leroy Duncan. On UFC 328The athlete from the 'Chute Boxe Diego Lima' academy will face... Roman Kopylov, who was once ranked in the top 15 of the middleweight division, but has been struggling. The Russian has lost two consecutive fights, ironically to two Brazilians (Gregory Robocop e Paulo borrachinha).

Meanwhile, the second Brazilian recovered from his debut loss and secured his first UFC victory over... Danny BarlowBut caution is advised, because Djorden will now face Baisangur Susurkaev, who is a highly promising fighter in the company. The Russian is undefeated in MMA and is a friend and training partner of Chimaev.

UFC 328 technical sheet

Date: May 9, 2026

Time: From 18pm (Brasília time)

Location: Prudential Center, New Jersey, United States

How to watch: SUPER FIGHTS LIVE in real time, Paramount+ (entire card) on TV and internet.

MAIN CARD (22pm Brasília time)

Average weight (up to 83,9 kg): Khamzat Shimaev x Sean Strickland – fight for the belt

Flyweight (up to 57 kg): Joshua Van x Tatsuro Taira – fight for the belt

Heavy weight (up to 120,2 kg): Alexander Volkov x Waldo Cortes Acosta

Welterweight (up to 77,1 kg): Sean brady x Joaquin buckley

Light weight (up to 70,3 kg): Bobby Green x Jeremy Stephens

PRELIMINARY CARD (18pm Brasília time)

Middleweight (up to 83,9 kg): Ateba Gautier x Ozzy Diaz

Welterweight (up to 77,1 kg): Joel alvarez x Yaroslav Amosov

Light weight (up to 70,3 kg): Grant dawson x Mateusz Rebecki

Light weight (up to 70,3 kg): Jim Miller x Jared gordon

Average weight (up to 83,9 kg): Roman Kopylov x Marcus Tullius Learn

Featherweight (up to 65,8 kg): pat sabatini x William Gomis

Average weight (up to 83,9 kg): Baisangur Susurkaev x Djorden Santos

Flyweight (up to 57 kg): Clayton Carpenter x Jose Ochoa