UFC 328 Announcement: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland – Newark Title Fight HeadlinesUFC 328 Announcement: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland – Newark Card Title Fight Headlines
The The ultimate fighting championship returns to Newark with a massive middleweight title fight as champion Khamzat Chimaev defends the belt in a fight against the former champion Sean Strickland.
The fight will be the main event UFC 328taking place May 9 on Prudential Center.
The main event card will be broadcast live Most significant+ beginning of o 21:00 ET / 18:00 PTand the qualifying rounds start earlier in the evening.
It will mark it The 12th UFC event held at the Prudential Center since the promotion first visited the arena in 2007.
Khamzat Chimaev wants to extend his undefeated streak
Chimaev (15-0) enters the fight as one of the most dominant fighters in the sport.
Fighting from the United Arab Emirates through Chechnya, the undefeated champion has built a reputation for relentless pressure and elite grappling.
Chimaev already has impressive wins over former champions Dricus du Plessis, Robert WhittakerAND Kamaru Usman.
Now he hopes to begin a dominant title reign by handing Strickland another defeat.
Sean Strickland wants his belt back
Strickland (30-7) is determined to regain the championship he once held.
Outspoken contender from Crown he is known for his constant pressure and high-volume hitting style.
Strickland has notable wins over the likes of Israel Adesanya, Antoni HernandezAND Nassourdine Imawow.
A victory over Chimaev would advance him two-time UFC middleweight champion.
Heavyweight clash: Volkov vs. Cortes Acosta
In the co-main event, the heavyweight contenders will clash as they are ranked No. 2 Alexander Volkov faces no. 4 Waldo Cortes Acosta.
Volkov (39-11) wants to gain momentum after the victory over Liverpool Almeida Prison. The experienced striker also has victories to his credit Sergei Pavlovich, Pacific OceanAND Alexander Romanov.
Meanwhile, Cortes Acosta (17-2) is chasing his own fourth consecutive knockout victory. The Dominican heavyweight completed his highlights Derrick Lewis, Shamil GazievAND Ante Delija.
Key fights added to the UFC 328 card
The Newark card also features several high-profile fights across multiple divisions.
Welterweight rivals Sean Brady AND Joaquin Buckley compete in a Ranked Battle that could bring the winner closer to competing for the title.
Former lithe heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz he will also return to the octagon for a rematch Bogdan Guskowa.
In the clash of long-time veterans, King Green meets Jeremy Stephens in a lithe duel.
Elsewhere on the card, a middleweight prospect Atebe Gautier faces Ozzy Diaz.
Ismael
Bonfim has been removed from the
Ultimate Fighting Championship roster.
Bonfim's UFC tenure ended after a loss to Francisco
Prado at
UFC Vegas 122 on Saturday. The Brazilian missed the non-title
lightweight limit by 7.5 pounds and forfeited 25% of his purse. He
then suffered a first-round technical knockout before being removed
from the roster.
Ismael Bonfim exits UFC with 2-5 record after third weight miss
and Francisco Prado TKO
This was Bonfim's third weight miss during his UFC tenure. He came
in 3.5 pounds overweight for a scheduled fight against Vinc Pichel
in 2023, prompting the bout's cancellation. Bonfim missed weight by
five pounds against Chris
Padilla last year and lost by knockout. He was finished in his
last four UFC appearances.
Before news of his departure, Bonfim posted a statement Sunday
reflecting on the loss. The 30-year-old thanked his supporters and
said his career was not over.
“Always grateful to God for life, health and every opportunity He
gives me,†Bonfim wrote on Instagram. “Everything doesn’t go as
planned, results don’t always come as desired, but my faith remains
unshakable. Because, above my plans, are God’s plans, and I choose
to trust, even when I don’t understand. Thank you to every person
cheering me on, praying for me and standing by my side no matter
the outcome. You are all part of my story! There are no excuses, no
shame, and much less reason to give up. We’ve come here the hardest
way, facing battles few know about, overcoming fears, breaking
barriers, and fighting against things that go far beyond what
happens inside an octagon. The result of a battle does not define
the value of a warrior, and defeat will never be able to erase the
entire history we have built. I keep my head held high, my heart at
peace and my faith even stronger. Because who knows where he came
from, everything he faced and how much he had to fight to get here,
doesn’t give up because of a result. My story doesn’t end here. God
is still writing the next chapters, and I trust Him completely. All
honor and all glory be given to God!â€
Bonfim earned a UFC contract on
Dana White's Contender Series in 2022 and won his promotional
debut with a flying knee knockout of Terrance
McKinney. He went 1-5 afterward, finishing his UFC tenure at
2-5.
Fighter sues Jake Paul, MVP for $10 million after traumatic brain injury
jai_herbert_mma on Instagram
UFC veteran Jai Herbert is rolling with the punches after a nice win over Matheus Camilo in Vegas last weekend.
Throughout the course of his tenure in the promotion, Jai Herbert has been able to pick up some pretty nice wins. Of course, he's also had his fair share of setbacks, but against Matheus Camilo on Saturday night, he made it two wins on the bounce.
RELATED: Jai Herbert expecting an “entertaining fight†and to “put on a show†against Fares Ziam at UFC London
Given the fact that he is now 38 years of age, many wouldn't have expected Jai Herbert to still be competing at this level considering some of the damage he's taken in the past. Alas, he continues to defy the odds in an impressive way.
After the fight, Jai Herbert spoke to reporters about his current approach to the MMA game.
Jai Herbert reflects on latest victory
“I feel good,†Herbert told MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight at UFC Fight Night 290. “I don't really look (at my age). I'm just rolling with it. … Usually they have a fight the start of the year in London. But whatever. I like fighting on the road. I really enjoy. I fought in Winning in April. Now fought in Vegas. I'm just happy to get there and fight. I'm just taking it every day as it comes.â€
“He was loading up with the big shots and I knew that was going to end up draining him,†Herbert said. “Obviously I was tired too, but I imposed my will on him. I knew I was going to win, especially in that last round. I wanted to work harder and that's what I did.â€
Quotes via MMA Junkie
What's next for Herbert in the UFC? Is this one of the best wins he's had in his UFC run? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!
Michael Page has found his new combat sports home after a head-scratching UFC run.
Page was not re-signed by the UFC following his decision win over Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris in September, improving his promotional record to 5-1. Despite being ranked in two different divisions, the UFC couldn't wait to let Page enter free agency, and this past Saturday, “MVP†was announced as the newest signing to Misfits Boxing for a multi-fight deal.
“Venom†spoke about his decision following the announcement, and couldn't be happier to express himself creatively, which he couldn't do in the UFC.
“To be fair, this one happened relatively quickly,†Page told The Stomping Ground. “We kind of didn't know as recent as three or four days back, it still wasn't 100 percent confirmed where we're going. But yeah, this makes sense.
“Like I said out there, I feel free of the shackles. I'm a very creative person — my walkouts, my entrances, my exits — and I wasn't allowed to do that. And I feel like here, they're literally like, â€Look, we want you to be yourself.“ That's going to help me be my best self.â€
While Page had success from a wins and losses perspective, his fights left a bit to be desired. But it seemed like the writing was on the wall almost immediately for Page's UFC run, as his signing was, essentially, a throwaway portion of a Dana White post-event press conference. Page's lone UFC loss came against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 303 in June 2024.
The 39-year-old knows more could've been accomplished in the UFC, but he's excited to put a fresh coat of paint on his next chapter of competition.
“For me, it's a shame,†Page explained. “I just feel like there's so much more the UFC could be doing for fighters. Regardless, whether you like them, hate them, they are the biggest combat show in terms of MMA. So you have to value them, there's some ridiculously talented fighters.
“But I went in there, and I was top-10 in two divisions, I was calling out everybody, wasn't getting any feedback. Again, [I] felt very restricted, so it's a shame because I felt like there was more fights, big fights that could be had. But here, I feel free. The big fights, the big names that are out there, that are away from other shows, it's all going to happen.â€