UFC 328 Results: Strickland Upsets Chimaev, Van Retains Title in Newark

UFC 328 turned out to be one of the most talked-about nights of the 2026 season. On May 9, 2026, the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, hosted a card built around two championship fights and a feud that had been simmering for weeks. By the final bell, an undefeated middleweight champion had lost his belt, a 24-year-old flyweight king had cemented his reign, and a veteran lightweight had once again reminded everyone why he is a fan favorite.

This guide covers everything worth knowing about the event: the final results, the head-to-head matchups, the bonus winners, the numbers behind the night, and the latest updates on where the winners and losers go from here. Everything below is current as of October 22, 2026.

UFC 328 at a Glance: Date, Venue and Broadcast

Here is the quick-reference version before we get into the fights.

The show marked the promotion’s 12th visit to Newark and its first since UFC 316 in June 2025. One important change for fans comparing this event with older numbered cards: UFC 328 streamed live on Paramount+ in the United States, which reflects the promotion’s newer broadcast arrangement rather than the traditional pay-per-view model.

How the UFC 328 Card Came Together

Few cards survive the booking process untouched, and this one was no exception. The Newark date and location surfaced in early March, and the main event was officially confirmed by Dana White shortly afterward.

The co-main event had a longer backstory. Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira were originally scheduled to fight at UFC 327 in April, but Van withdrew about a week before that event with a knee injury. The UFC moved the title fight to UFC 328, which turned out to be a lucky break for fans, because the delay produced the best fight of the night.

Not every booking landed. A light heavyweight rematch between Jan Blachowicz and Bogdan Guskov fell apart when Blachowicz suffered a torn meniscus. A featherweight bout between Daniel Santos and Choi Doo-ho was shifted to a card one week later. At the weigh-ins, Jeremy Stephens came in four pounds over the lightweight limit, so his fight went ahead at a catchweight and 30 percent of his purse went to opponent King Green.

UFC 328 Full Results and Winners

Below are the headline results from the main card and the notable finishes from the undercard.

The middleweight scorecards were tight. Two judges favored Strickland 48-47, while the third gave Chimaev the same margin.

UFC 328 Main Event: Strickland vs. Chimaev

The Build-Up Was Nasty

Rarely does a title fight arrive with this much venom. Strickland and Chimaev traded insults throughout the promotion, Chimaev kicked Strickland during the press-conference face-off, and Strickland went as far as threatening his opponent in a way that drew widespread criticism. Chimaev, meanwhile, was a heavy favorite with betting lines around -500, while Strickland sat near +375 to +400.

How the Fight Played Out

Round one went exactly the way the oddsmakers expected. Chimaev smothered Strickland with wrestling and top control, and it looked like a long night for the challenger. From the second round onward, everything changed. Strickland stuffed the takedown attempts, kept Chimaev at range with a stiff jab, and landed clean straight rights whenever the champion tried to close the distance.

Chimaev’s gas tank became the story. He never recovered the suffocating pace of round one, and he could not put Strickland on his back for any meaningful stretch again. Two of the three judges rewarded Strickland’s defensive wrestling and cleaner striking, and he became a two-time middleweight champion.

Why the Result Matters

The loss was the first of Chimaev’s professional career, dropping him to 15-1. For Strickland, now 31-7, it was the second massive upset of his title career, after his win over Israel Adesanya in 2023. The fight itself was less explosive than the feud promised, but the outcome reshaped the entire middleweight division.

UFC 328 Co-Main Event: Van vs. Taira

A Fight of the Year Contender

If the main event delivered the shock, the co-main delivered the action. Joshua Van, the 24-year-old champion from Myanmar, defended the flyweight title against Tatsuro Taira in a fight that earned a $100,000 Fight of the Night bonus for both men.

Taira took an early edge with takedowns and control time, but Van scrambled back to his feet and began landing sharp boxing combinations. A violent right hand dropped Taira in the second round, and Van kept attacking the face and body from there. Taira rallied with more takedowns and counter-striking, yet the accumulated damage was too much. A fifth-round knockdown ended it at 1:32, and the referee waved it off.

Historic Firsts

The fight was the first UFC title bout contested between two Asian-born fighters, and it was also the first title fight in company history where both competitors were born in the 2000s. Taira fell short in his attempt to become the first Japanese UFC champion, and his record dropped to 18-2. Van improved to 17-2 and has now won seven straight.

Head-to-Head Comparison: UFC 328 Title Fights

Chimaev vs. Strickland: Pre-Fight Tale of the Tape

The matchup was a classic pressure-versus-discipline puzzle. Chimaev’s route to victory was simple: get the fight to the mat early and drain the opponent. Strickland’s plan was just as clear: survive round one, defend takedowns, and win the rest on volume and accuracy. His plan worked.

Van vs. Taira: Pre-Fight Tale of the Tape

Oddsmakers actually favored the challenger here, which makes the result even more impressive for Van. Taira’s grappling gave him real moments, but Van’s power and his ability to get back to his feet turned the fight into a striking contest that favored the champion.

Undercard Highlights From UFC 328

The undercard at UFC 328 was deeper than the headliners suggested.

Jim Miller Steals the Emotional Moment

Veteran lightweight Jim Miller fought in front of a home-state crowd for his 47th trip to the Octagon and submitted Jared Gordon. The win came shortly after Miller’s teenage son overcame a rare cancer, which gave the finish an emotional charge the arena clearly felt. Miller earned a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus, and the finish was widely described as record-extending.

Other Notable Performances

King Green opened the main card with a submission over Jeremy Stephens, Sean Brady won a decision over Joaquin Buckley, and Alexander Volkov added a unanimous decision victory at heavyweight. Earlier on the card, Baisangur Susurkaev kept his unbeaten record alive with a third-round choke, and Yaroslav Amosov earned the second Performance of the Night award.

UFC 328 Bonuses and Awards

UFC 328 Hall of Fame Announcement

The broadcast also carried news beyond the cage. Former middleweight champion Chris Weidman was announced as the next modern-wing inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame, with the ceremony set for International Fight Week in Las Vegas. Longtime UFC writer Thomas Gerbasi will enter the contributor wing posthumously after his passing in September 2025.

Latest Updates After UFC 328 (October 2026)

Strickland’s Next Defense

The newest reporting points to Nassourdine Imavov as Strickland’s first challenger of his second reign. Strickland has said the rematch is next, with the date reportedly targeting a main event at UFC 335 in January, although compensation was still being negotiated at the time of the latest reports. Treat this as expected rather than official until the promotion confirms it.

Chimaev’s Future

Chimaev first told Dana White after the fight that he wanted to move up to light heavyweight, citing the difficulty of cutting to 185 pounds. Within days, his camp changed course and requested an immediate rematch with Strickland, with his team saying it is the only fight he is interested in. Strickland has pushed back, saying rankings matter and that Chimaev needs to earn another shot with wins. A potential light heavyweight matchup with Paulo Costa was also floated by analysts.

Van’s Position at Flyweight

After the Taira win, analysts widely agreed that Van erased any remaining doubt about his legitimacy as flyweight champion, and the division now has a clear top figure heading into the next cycle of title contenders.

Rising Names to Watch

Ateba Gautier added another finish to his UFC resume, while Susurkaev improved to 12-0. Both are now worth tracking as middleweight depth grows around a new champion.

What UFC 328 Taught Us

The night offered three lessons that will shape matchmaking through the rest of the year, and each one traces back to what happened in Newark.

Favorites are never safe. Chimaev was a massive betting favorite and still lost. The result is a reminder that wrestling-heavy dominance can fade quickly when cardio, weight cutting, and a disciplined opponent combine against it.

Flyweight belongs in the spotlight. The Van and Taira fight showed that lighter weight classes can deliver the most dramatic action on a numbered card.

Veterans still matter. Miller’s performance proved that experience and heart remain marketable, even in a division full of younger talent.

Final Thoughts on UFC 328

UFC 328 delivered a genuine upset, a modern classic at flyweight, and a feel-good moment for one of the sport’s most durable competitors. The headline result of UFC 328 changed the middleweight picture immediately, and the aftermath continues to drive conversation months later.

If you follow the sport closely, the next things to watch are Strickland’s first title defense, the direction Chimaev chooses, and how the flyweight division reorganizes around Van. Bookmark this page, because we update it whenever an official announcement changes the picture.