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UFC 328 Announcement: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland – Newark Title Fight HeadlinesUFC 328 Announcement: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland – Newark Card Title Fight Headlines

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(Photo: Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)

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.

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Dana White doubles down on ‘f*cking moronic’ Josh Hokit comment about Michelle Obama at UFC White House card

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Dana White doubles down on ‘f*cking moronic’ Josh Hokit comment about Michelle Obama at UFC White House card

Dana White stands by his belief that freedom of speech much be protected at all times, but even he couldn't help but rip UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit for his comment about former First Lady Michelle Obama at the UFC White House card in June.

Just after his win over Derrick Lewis on the historic card, Hokit decided to use his post-fight interview to insult the former First Lady when he shouted “Michelle Obama is a man … am I right America?†His comment was met with intense criticism, which included an initial reaction from White when he released a statement addressing the ugly moment during an otherwise spectacular event.

White addressed the situation again during an appearance on The Pivot podcast when he admitted that the Obama's are public figures so people are going to go out of their way to insult the former President and First Lady but he absolutely hated what Hokit said that night.

“Barack and Michelle Obama are public figures and when you're a public figure, it's part of the game,†White said. “But what I don't like, first of all former First Lady of the United States, No. 1. No. 2, a wife, a mother. It's f*cking gross. Inappropriate. The timing of it and everything. I think that people understand that is not — there are people that you can't talk to and you can't change their mind — obviously not the opinion of the UFC. Not my opinion or anybody else that fought on that card.

“It was a really unfortunate thing that happened that night. When you hit this f*cking grand slam homerun and have a perfect event in every way that it could be, you've got a f*cking moronic [comment like that]. But other than that, it was a great f*cking night. What are you going to do?â€

White says he didn't even hear Hokit made that comment initially during the show, but he obviously found out rather quickly when the event ended.

“I could go f*cking mental on this show but I won't,†White said. “It was gross. I didn't even hear it until after the event. I didn't know he had said it. Like right when he said it there, I didn't know he said it.â€

That said, White isn't going to change his stance when it comes to freedom of speech for UFC fighters and the rest of his promotion.

He definitely didn't agree with Hokit that night but he also understands that the most controversial comments are exactly why freedom of speech exists.

“Unfortunately when you talk about freedom of speech, it's usually the grossest stuff that has to be protected,†White said. “You can't talk about freedom of speech and then pick and choose what [is allowed]. I don't love it all the time but it is what it is.

“I don't love my stance on freedom of speech all the time but it has to be protected.â€

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Rose Namajunas won't return until she finds her purpose: "I still want to fight again"

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Rose Namajunas won't return until she finds her purpose: "I still want to fight again"

Rose Namajunas doesn't want to retire just yet, but she needs to have a good reason to trade leather again.

Namajunas last competed inside the Octagon back in January. She stepped inside the Octagon with Natalie Silva in hopes of returning to the UFC title picture, but she dropped a unanimous decision to Silva. The outcome was a bit controversial, as many pundits felt “Thug†Rose did enough to secure the win.

Fast forward to the summer, and Namajunas is attempting to discover what her purpose is in the fight game at 34. Appearing on the “Weighing In†podcast, the former two-time UFC women's strawweight titleholder said she hopes to find the spark that convinces her to get back to action (via MMAJunkie).

“That's why I've been sitting out for a while because I'm trying to rediscover, OK, what am I doing now?†Namajunas said. “To just be fairly transparent, the last three opportunities that I had, or the last three losses that I had – the Natalia fight, the Erin Blanchfield fight, and the Manon (Fiorot) fight – … I was told that I would get a title shot with a win with that fight.

“And same thing with the Manon fight. I needed to win that fight in order to get the title shot. Then Erin Blanchfield, I'm pretty sure it was the same thing. I came up short in all three of those. I'm at a point in my life where I'm thinking about family stuff and all these things, and next steps, future things. So I do want to compete, and I still want to fight again, but I want to make sure that when I'm going in there, I'm going for a purpose and a reason.â€

Namajunas has gone 1-2 in her last two outings with the losses coming against Silva and top contender Erin Blanchfield. “Thug†Rose is a name who always lingers near the top of the heap, and perhaps another opportunity will arise in the near future. For now, Namajunas is content with waiting for the right time.

Who do you think Rose Namajunas should fight next? Let us know in the comments below.

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Oscar De La Hoya claims Zuffa Boxing is overpaying big names to create a monopoly: "Never a long-term deal"

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Oscar De La Hoya claims Zuffa Boxing is overpaying big names to create a monopoly: "Never a long-term deal"

Oscar De La Hoya believes Zuffa Boxing is trying to fool fighters by offering select names bigger paydays in the short term.

Recently, the promotion booked its biggest match to date with Conor Benn challenging Ryan Garcia for the WBC welterweight title on Sept. 12. Benn is signed to Zuffa Boxing, while Garcia is under De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. While this will be a co-promoted event, De La Hoya still has major issues with TKO and Zuffa Boxing.

In a new video posted on his Instagram page, De La Hoya ripped the Dana White-led promotion for attempting to trick boxers into thinking their big money payouts will last (via MMAFighting).

“So I saw The Odyssey the other day,†De La Hoya said. “It was about the Greeks and how they invaded the city of Troy by disguising themselves inside a Trojan Horse. They tricked their enemies to get inside their gates and the rest is history. Today, Zuffa Boxing is the Trojan Horse.

“They are overpaying a few boxers to make it seem like this big money will continue, but it won't. Once they monopolize the sport like they want to, Zuffa will pay fighters peanuts, exactly like the UFC. It's the same model. They want to change the Muhammad Ali Act so they can operate as their own league with their own rules, their own rankings, their own unicorn belt. They're luring in the biggest names for fight-by-fight deals. No long contracts. That's why you see Shakur and Conor fighting a one- or two-fight deal. Never a long-term deal. But again, this is the Trojan Horse.â€

Shakur Stevenson has been Zuffa Boxing's biggest acquisition to date. The deal was largely expected given Terence Crawford's close ties to White. Crawford has taken Stevenson under his wing throughout the years.

Many other longtime promoters, such as Matchroom's Eddie Hearn, have also taken aim at Zuffa for attempting to monopolize boxing. White has insisted that he's doing his own thing and isn't trying to step on anyone's toes.

Do you agree with Oscar De La Hoya, or is it sour grapes now that Zuffa Boxing is establishing its brand? Share your opinion in the comments below.

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