Boiling Point in Newark: Chimaev vs Strickland UFC 328 Breakdown

UFC 328 heads to Newark, New Jersey this Saturday with one of the most heated main events of the year as middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev defends his title against former champion Sean Strickland.

The tension surrounding the fight has been impossible to ignore. We’ve seen bad blood in the UFC before, but the build-up to UFC 328 feels like a different level of animosity altogether.

After a chaotic press conference that saw security and police forced to separate the pair following an aggressive face-off, the rivalry has quickly become one of the most personal grudge matches in recent memory.

The talking is over. Now, they fight.

Here is the full UFC 328 main card breakdown and predictions ahead of fight night.

UFC 328 Main Event: Khamzat Chimaev vs Sean Strickland

Weight Class: Middleweight (185 lbs) | Title FightRecords: Chimaev (15-0) | Strickland (30-7)

Khamzat Chimaev vs Sean Strickland Breakdown

This is a blood feud forged on the mats of Xtreme Couture back in 2022. What started as sparring sessions has evolved into deeply personal resentment, fuelled by Chimaev releasing old footage captioned, “I am bullying weak people,” and Strickland accusing the Chechen of being an abusive gym bully.

Inside the cage, Chimaev has looked like a terrifying stylistic problem. He captured the middleweight crown with a completely one-sided drubbing of Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319, cementing his blend of relentless chain-wrestling and heavy hands. He enters the cage with a flawless 15-0 record and a reputation as the sport’s boogeyman.

Strickland’s path back to gold has been a rollercoaster. After his historic upset over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 to win the belt, he dropped it to Du Plessis and lost a subsequent rematch at UFC 312. But Strickland rallied fiercely in February, reminding everyone of his elite pressure boxing by finishing Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez.

UFC 328 Prediction: Chimaev vs Strickland

Strickland’s Philly shell defense and stabbing teep kicks are designed to frustrate, but the psychological warfare might be his biggest weapon here. If Strickland can goad Chimaev into an emotional, high-output brawl early, he can rely on his legendary cardio to take over in the championship rounds.

However, if Chimaev keeps his composure and utilises his world-class grappling, it could become a gruelling night for the challenger.

UFC 328 Co-Main Event: Joshua Van vs Tatsuro Taira

Weight Class: Flyweight (125 lbs) | Title FightRecords: Van (16-2) | Taira (18-1)

Joshua Van vs Tatsuro Taira Breakdown

Originally slated for UFC 327 before a minor injury forced a delay, this co-main event features two of the brightest young stars in the sport.

Joshua Van’s rise to the throne has been meteoric. In 2024, he rattled off wins against Rei Tsuruya, Bruno Silva, and Brandon Royval. He captured the belt at UFC 323 after Alexandre Pantoja suffered a freak arm injury just 26 seconds into their bout. Now, Van is out to prove his championship status is no fluke.

Standing across from him is Japan’s Tatsuro Taira. Taira tasted defeat for the first time against Brandon Royval but bounced back impressively with a victory over Park Hyun-sung before securing the biggest win of his career against former champion Brandon Moreno at UFC 323.

UFC 328 Prediction: Van vs Taira

This is a classic striker-versus-grappler pairing. Van is the more dynamic athlete on the feet with punishing combinations, while Taira’s submission grappling is suffocating.

If Van’s takedown defense holds up, he should be able to dictate the pace and keep the fight in his wheelhouse.

Alexander Volkov vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Weight Class: Heavyweight (265 lbs)Records: Volkov (39-11) | Cortes-Acosta (17-2)

Alexander Volkov vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta Breakdown

The big boys are set to throw down in a bout that will heavily impact the heavyweight rankings.

Alexander Volkov is the definition of a seasoned veteran. Standing 6’7”, the Russian striker utilises distance management, chopping leg kicks, and an iron chin to break his opponents down.

Waldo Cortes-Acosta represents raw, booming power. He recently picked up a controversial but brutal win over Ante Delija and is looking to add a massive name to his resume.

UFC 328 Prediction: Volkov vs Cortes-Acosta

Cortes-Acosta has the athleticism and the one-punch equaliser, but Volkov is notoriously difficult to hit cleanly.

Expect Volkov to stay on the outside, utilising his jab and teeps to rack up points while avoiding the devastating power of “Salsa Boy.”

Sean Brady vs Joaquin Buckley

Weight Class: Welterweight (170 lbs)Records: Brady (18-2) | Buckley (21-7)

Sean Brady vs Joaquin Buckley Breakdown

This welterweight collision guarantees violence.

Sean Brady is a physical powerhouse with some of the best top-control grappling in the division. When he gets his hands on opponents, they usually end up staring at the arena lights while he hunts for submissions.

Joaquin Buckley is pure dynamite. The man responsible for one of the most iconic knockouts in UFC history continues to rely on explosive athleticism and blitzing combinations.

UFC 328 Prediction: Brady vs Buckley

The game plans could not be more transparent.

Buckley needs to keep his back off the fence and land something heavy in the pocket. Brady needs to weather the early storm, change levels, and turn this into a gritty wrestling match.

Whoever dictates the range wins the fight.

King Green vs Jeremy Stephens

Weight Class: Lightweight (155 lbs)Records: Green (34-17-1, 1 NC) | Stephens (29-22, 1 NC)

King Green vs Jeremy Stephens Breakdown

UFC 328 kicks off the main card with a treat for hardcore fans: a clash of true veterans.

King Green (formerly Bobby Green) continues to defy Father Time, utilising his patented hands-down, shoulder-roll boxing to slip shots and counter with stinging volume.

Jeremy Stephens, returning to the Octagon spotlight, still possesses the kind of terrifying knockout power that can change a fight instantly. Stephens has been focusing heavily on his boxing as of late, meaning fans are almost certainly in for a 15-minute striking war.

UFC 328 Prediction: Green vs Stephens

Green’s speed and footwork give him a distinct advantage in a volume striking match, but playing the hands-down game against a power puncher like Stephens is dangerous.

Green should edge a decision if he stays disciplined, but one clean connection from Stephens changes everything.

The Final Word

UFC 328 is not just another pay-per-view; it is a powder keg waiting for a spark.

From the explosive opening bell of the Green vs Stephens shootout to the deeply personal grudge match headlining the night, Newark is in for an unforgettable evening of high-stakes violence.

When the cage door finally locks behind Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland, the trash talk, the press conference antics, and the flying kicks will instantly fade into the background. All that remains is the fight itself.

And if the chaotic build-up is any indication of what is to come, fans may be about to witness an absolute war.