UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland is set to take place this Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. This UFC Betting event marks the promotion’s return to the Tri-State area. Specifically, there is a card built around a high-stakes middleweight title grudge match and a secondary flyweight championship bout.
The headliner features undefeated champion Khamzat Chimaev defending his middleweight belt for the first time since dethroning Dricus du Plessis. In sum, Chimaev enters with a perfect 15-0 record and a reputation for suffocating grappling.
Previously, he dominated recent opponents like Robert Whittaker and Kamaru Usman. Standing in his way is former champion and current number three contender Sean Strickland, who earned this shot by ending the winning streak of Anthony Hernandez. The matchup is personal, as both fighters are former training partners with well-documented tension. In sum, analysts view this as a classic clash of styles. To show Chimaev’s explosive wrestling versus Strickland’s high-volume boxing and legendary cardio.
In the co-main event, flyweight champion Joshua Van puts his title on the line against the rising Japanese star Tatsuro Taira. This bout was originally intended for an earlier event but was rescheduled to bolster this Newark card. Overall, Taira is widely considered the most dangerous threat in the division following his recent win over Brandon Moreno.
Meanwhile, for Van, this defense is an opportunity to prove his standing at the top of the 125-pound division against a challenger that many oddsmakers have actually labeled as the betting favorite.
UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Saturday, May 9, 2026, 9:00 PM ET. |
|---|---|
| Location: | Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. |
| TV Coverage: | Paramount+. |
Chimaev vs. Strickland SBG Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Sean Strickland | +425 |
| Khamzat Chimaev | -600 |
UFC 328 is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2026. The event will take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The main card will start at 9:00 PM ET. In the United States, the event will be broadcast exclusively on Paramount+.
The UFC 328 main card features a middleweight title clash. To illuminate, the champion, Khamzat Chimaev, is entering as a significant favorite at -520. The challenger, Sean Strickland, sits at +390.
In the co-main event flyweight title fight, the betting lines have shifted to favor the challenger, Tatsuro Taira, at -185. While the sitting champion Joshua Van is currently the underdog at +155.
The heavyweight bout on the main card sees Alexander Volkov favored at -180 over Waldo Cortes-Acosta at +150. In the welterweight division, Sean Brady is positioned as a solid favorite at -185 over Joaquin Buckley at +155. Also, the lightweight matchup between veterans King Green and Jeremy Stephens carries the widest online wagering margin outside of the main event. Green is favored at -310, and Stephens is listed at +250.
The rest of the main card is designed to shuffle the rankings in several key divisions. In the heavyweight category, number two-ranked Alexander Volkov faces number four Waldo Cortes-Acosta in a bout that likely determines the next title challenger. Consider that Volkov is looking to maintain his momentum after a recent victory over Jailton Almeida. While Cortes-Acosta brings a heavy-handed boxing style and a three-fight knockout streak into the octagon.
The welterweight division features a top-ten clash between grappling specialist Sean Brady and the explosive Joaquin Buckley, which is expected to be a high-paced affair. Additionally, lightweight veterans King Green and Jeremy Stephens will meet in a fan-friendly matchup between two of the most experienced strikers on the roster.
Chimaev vs. Strickland SBG Free Pick
Wise Guys leaning toward the UFC Betting odds underdog, the primary recommendation is Strickland by decision at +550. This bet rests on the theory that Sean Strickland can survive Chimaev’s early blitz and use his elite cardio and defensive striking to outpoint the champion in the championship rounds. However, history suggests that Chimaev’s efficiency can drop when he is forced into deep water, as seen in his majority-decision win over Kamaru Usman. Thus, making a late-fight surge from Strickland a viable, high-value upset scenario.
SBG Best Bet: Sean Strickland.