The UFC’s biggest middleweight showdown in years cleared its final pre-fight hurdle Friday morning when the fighters for UFC 328 stepped on the scales at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland both came in at exactly 185 pounds, officially setting the stage for a title clash that fight fans across South Carolina have circled on the calendar since the matchup was announced.
Chimaev, who holds the UFC middleweight title and enters the main event undefeated as a professional, weighed in without drama. Strickland, the former champion who originally captured the belt in a stunning upset before losing it on the judges’ scorecards in a subsequent defense, hit the 185-pound limit on his first attempt as well. The bout will serve as Chimaev’s first title defense and Strickland’s bid to reclaim gold he once held. Both fighters are cleared to compete Saturday night.
The co-main event also cleared without issue. Joshua Van, making his first flyweight title defense since claiming the belt from Alexandre Pantoja, and his challenger Tatsuro Taira each weighed in at exactly 125 pounds. The bout carries historical significance as the first UFC championship contest to feature two male Asian fighters squaring off for the title. Van and Taira’s matchup is set to go five rounds under flyweight championship rules.
Not all the news from the weigh-ins was clean. Veteran lightweight Jeremy Stephens registered 160 pounds for his scheduled bout against King Green, falling four full pounds over the 155-pound lightweight limit. As a result, Stephens will forfeit 30 percent of his fight-night purse, and the contest will proceed as a catchweight bout at 160 pounds. Green, who came in at the limit, had the option to decline the fight, but the match has been confirmed to move forward.
The rest of the 13-bout card came in on weight or within allowable limits. The welterweight contest between Sean Brady and Joaquin Buckley saw both men land at 170 pounds. The heavyweight feature matching Alexander Volkov against Waldo Cortes-Acosta will go ahead with Volkov at 257 and Cortes-Acosta at 264, both under the 265-pound heavyweight limit. Several prelim fighters hit the scales one pound over their class limits, which is permitted for non-title bouts.
The full card streams live on Paramount+ beginning at 5 p.m. ET Saturday. Early prelims kick off at that time, followed by the preliminary card at 7 p.m. ET and the main card at 9 p.m. ET. For Upstate South Carolina fans looking to watch the event, Paramount+ subscriptions give full access to the broadcast, and several sports bars in the Spartanburg area are expected to show the main card live given the high-profile nature of the Chimaev-Strickland title bout.
Mixed martial arts has a firm following across the Carolinas, with the sport drawing consistent interest from Spartanburg County’s athletic and fitness community. The USC Upstate campus and a number of gyms in the area maintain active student and recreational MMA programs, and championship cards of this scale routinely draw local watch-party crowds. The Chimaev-Strickland fight in particular has generated substantial regional conversation given both fighters’ aggressive styles and the stakes of the middleweight belt.
Chimaev’s undefeated record and the aura surrounding his path through the division have made him one of the sport’s most discussed champions in recent years. Strickland’s path back to a title shot following his own championship reign gives the fight a narrative that both hardened MMA followers and casual viewers are likely to follow. Saturday’s Paramount+ broadcast provides the most accessible viewing option for fans who want to watch without a pay-per-view add-on.
The UFC 328 card marks one of the most talent-rich events of the current MMA calendar. In addition to the two title fights, the card features a potential heavyweight contenders matchup in Volkov versus Cortes-Acosta, a welterweight battle between top-ten fighters Brady and Buckley, and the return of longtime lightweight Jim Miller, who is competing in his 58th professional bout. Miller’s longevity in the sport has made him a fan favorite on cards where he appears.
Fight night is Saturday, May 9, from Newark. Weigh-in results confirmed that 12 of the 13 scheduled bouts made weight as required, with only the Stephens-Green contest moving to a catchweight agreement. All title fights are officially certified to proceed.
