Middleweight King Strikes New Jersey for First Defense of Belt in May
Khamzat Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) was among the UFC stars who threw their hats in the ring for the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 card on The White House grounds in Washington, DC on June 14. While that won’t happen after last Saturday’s announcement ...
Khamzat Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) was among the UFC stars who threw their hats in the ring for the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 card on The White House grounds in Washington, DC on June 14. While that won’t happen after last Saturday’s announcement of the six-bout event, his hiatus from competition will soon end.
The undefeated UFC Middleweight Champion last set foot inside the fabled Octagon last August inside United Center in Chicago. That summer Saturday night, he bested Dricus du Plessis (23-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) by way of unanimous decision after five rounds.
It’s been close to seven months since Khamzat Chimaev was able to successfully wrest away the belt from Dricus du Plessis, but Thursday evening, the champ had his return date set. Like last August, Chimaev will be making a business trip to the United States of America and he intends to leave with the title.
During a YouTube video released Thursday night, UFC CEO Dana White was joined by Brendan Fitzgerald and Michael Bisping to announce and discuss a series of UFC main events leading up to UFC Freedom 250 in Washington, DC on the night of June 14.
May 9 brings about UFC 328 from Newark, NJ’s Prudential Center. At the top of the bill on the evening before the Mother’s Day holiday inside the United States, Khamzat Chimaev will make his initial defense of the UFC Middleweight Championship.
Across the way stands challenger and No. 3 contender Sean Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC.) As with all title fights, this will be an advertised maximum of five rounds at five minutes per round to close out the show.
Sean Strickland, Khamzat Chimaev’s adversary on the second weekend of May, fought in UFC Houston on Feb. 21, knocking out Anthony Hernandez (15-3, 1 NC MMA, 9-3 UFC) in the third round. Strickland’s post-fight press conference that night was abbreviated after his microphone was quickly muted upon a member of the promotion’s PR staff informing him that his time at the podium expired.
Dana White, Michael Bisping on Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland at UFC 328
Subsequent to the announcement of the UFC Middleweight Championship fight, a video package was played on the program, after which the UFC CEO gave his thoughts on the upcoming contest.
“Fun card, and obviously, the main event is the fight that people have been waiting for for a long time,” White said. “Strickland looked incredible in his last performance. How much security do you think we’re going to need for the Chimaev crew?”
Bisping praised Strickland during the announcement.
“The man’s a maniac, but he deserves this shot,” Bisping said. “What he did to ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez last time out was just unbelievable, finished him with that beautiful knee, and of course, solidified himself as the number one contender.”
Michael Bisping Cautions Sean Strickland Ahead of Khamzat Chimaev Clash
At the same time, “The Count” issued a word of warning to Sean Strickland. One shot may spell disaster for the challenger this spring.
“Be careful what you wish for,” he said. “We all know Khamzat Chimaev, the man’s got ridiculous knockout power. He’s got submissions, he’s undefeated. The man’s a maniac, and now, he’s got the cardio, it seems, to go five rounds at a hard pace. put an absolute beatdown on Dricus du Plessis last time out.”
Final Thoughts: Exciting Fight Caps an Exciting Card
With Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland serving as the main event of UFC 328, the night before Mother’s Day is setting up to be a Saturday in the Octagon with fireworks rivaling the ones seen in the sky on July 4. The co-main attraction in Newark isn’t too bad, either.
In the co-main event, you’ll see a heavyweight contest between No. 2 contender Alexander Volkov (39-11 MMA, 13-5 UFC) and No. 4 contender Waldo Cortes-Acosta (17-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC.) Those two are among the most explosive fighters in the division, so get your popcorn ready for that fight.
May 9 can’t get here soon enough. UFC 328 may be a card for the ages by the time the last of the crowd walks out of Prudential Center after midnight on the morning of May 10.
