May 9 in Newark. Prudential Center. Khamzat Chimaev defends the middleweight title against Sean Strickland. Joshua Van risks the flyweight belt for the first time. Alexander Volkov and Waldo Cortes-Acosta collide at heavyweight. UFC 328 is stacked. But not every fighter on this card has the same shot at the title picture. Here is every main card fighter ranked by their actual chances of becoming champion, or staying one.
- Khamzat Chimaev (15-0) defends the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026
- Joshua Van puts the Flyweight title on the line for the first time against Tatsuro Taira
- The event takes place at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, broadcast on Paramount+
UFC 328 Fighter Rankings: The Ranking Criteria
This ranking measures each fighter’s realistic path to a UFC championship, either by winning on May 9 or by what a win does for their standing in the division. We factor in current record, divisional ranking, opposition quality, and stylistic matchup on the night. We’re not ranking them by fame or fan interest — we’re ranking them by actual title trajectory.
1. Khamzat Chimaev — Unbeaten, Unmatched, and Still Underestimated
The UFC Middleweight Champion. 15-0. His first title defence since stopping Dricus du Plessis in four rounds in January, an outcome that shocked most of the division given du Plessis was considered by many the hardest matchup for Chimaev’s style. Khamzat used his Greco-Roman wrestling to nullify Dricus’s clinch game and finished with a rear naked choke in round four.
Against Strickland, the matchup is different. Strickland’s boxing is linear but persistent — he throws 9.4 significant strikes per minute on average, per UFC Stats, and absorbs punishment calmly. Chimaev’s wrestling will need to work early. If he cannot get Strickland to the mat in rounds one and two, this becomes a stand-up war at 185 pounds, and Strickland is extremely comfortable there. The Khamzat camp has already signalled he is considering moving to 205 after this fight, which suggests he wants a statement performance that removes Strickland from contention.
2. Joshua Van — The Undefeated Flyweight Champion With Everything to Prove
Van has been champion for eight months and has not defended the belt yet. An injury pushed this fight back from UFC 327 to UFC 328. Against Tatsuro Taira, who is 16-0 in professional MMA, he faces the most technically complete grappler in the flyweight division. Taira’s guard work and leg lock attacks are among the most dangerous in all of MMA below 155 pounds — not just flyweight.
For Van, this is a statement moment. Win comfortably and he silences the questions about whether his title run is legitimate at this level. His striking output per UFC Stats shows 5.8 significant strikes per minute absorbed — below average for the division — suggesting a smart defensive style. But Taira will look to drag this to the ground, and that is where Van is least tested. A win here elevates Van into genuine pound-for-pound conversation. A loss would be one of the biggest upsets of 2026.
3. Sean Strickland — Underdog, Again
Strickland has beaten Adesanya. He has been champion. He has been the underdog in every significant fight of his career and has beaten the odds more often than not. At 34 years old, this is his best shot at a second title reign. He returns to Prudential Center — the venue where he delivered one of his best career performances — and he fights with nothing to lose. That makes him dangerous.
His path to winning: survive the takedowns in rounds one and two, land enough to hurt Chimaev with the jab and right hand in round three and beyond, and impose his volume on the scorecards if it goes to a decision. It is a narrow path. But Strickland is built for narrow paths.
4. Alexander Volkov — The Veteran Who Needs This Win
Volkov is 36 years old and has been in the UFC for nine years. At 7 feet tall, he remains the most awkward heavyweight matchup for smaller fighters who need to close the distance. Against Waldo Cortes-Acosta, a pressure fighter who comes forward constantly, Volkov’s reach and straight punching is the obvious weapon. UFC Stats show Volkov averages 4.1 significant strikes per minute at a 49.6% accuracy rate — high for a heavyweight.
A win puts him back in the title picture conversation for when Jon Jones officially retires or when Alex Pereira’s interim heavyweight title situation resolves. Volkov has been patient. He needs to be dominant on May 9.
5. Tatsuro Taira — The Submission Threat Who Could Steal the Show
Taira is ranked second in our list in terms of genuine upset potential. His 16-0 record includes 12 finishes, with nine submissions. That submission rate — 56% of his professional record — is among the highest of any top-ranked contender in any division, per Tapology data. If he gets Joshua Van to the mat and into his guard, this fight could be over quickly.
His style is not built for entertainment — it is built for winning. He grinds, clinches, and submits. On UFC 328, that could be enough to shock the world. Our view at Unicorn Blogger: Taira wins this fight. Van has not been tested at this level of grappling, and Taira’s guard entries are too slick for most fighters at flyweight to defend. This is the upset of the night. We are calling it now: Taira by submission, round three.
6. Sean Brady and Joaquin Buckley — Welterweight Title Implications
Brady is the #2 ranked welterweight. A win over Buckley keeps him in position for the next title shot. Buckley has been sensational since joining the UFC, with five bonuses in seven appearances, per UFC Stats, but he has not beaten anyone at Brady’s wrestling level. Brady’s takedown offense will be the defining factor. If this stays standing, Buckley wins. If Brady gets it to the mat by round two, Brady wins. We lean Brady.
Our Full UFC 328 Predictions at Unicorn Blogger
Chimaev by second-round TKO. Taira by submission round three — biggest upset of the night. Volkov by decision. Brady by submission round two. It is going to be a night of finishes.
Key Takeaways
- Khamzat Chimaev (15-0) defends the middleweight title for the first time at UFC 328 on May 9 in Newark
- Joshua Van puts his undefeated flyweight belt on the line against Tatsuro Taira, who has a 56% submission rate professionally
- Strickland is the underdog again but returns to Prudential Center where he has produced his best career performances
- Taira’s grappling is the most dangerous element on the entire card — our pick for upset of the night
- Brady vs Buckley at welterweight has direct title implications: the winner is next for the belt
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is UFC 328 Chimaev vs Strickland?
UFC 328 takes place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The main card begins at 10pm ET on Paramount+. Khamzat Chimaev defends the UFC Middleweight Championship against Sean Strickland in the main event, with the Joshua Van vs Tatsuro Taira flyweight title fight as the co-main event.
Is Khamzat Chimaev undefeated heading into UFC 328?
Yes. Khamzat Chimaev is 15-0 in professional MMA as he heads into UFC 328. He won the UFC Middleweight Championship by defeating Dricus du Plessis in January 2026. UFC 328 is his first title defence. Chimaev has finished all but one of his UFC opponents, with his only decision win coming against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 in 2022.
Who is Tatsuro Taira and why is he dangerous?
Tatsuro Taira is a Japanese MMA fighter ranked first in the UFC flyweight division as of April 2026. He is 16-0 in professional MMA with nine submission finishes from his 16 wins. His guard work, leg lock entries, and clinch grappling are considered the most technically complete in the flyweight division. He was originally scheduled to fight Joshua Van at UFC 327 before Van withdrew due to injury.
What happened to Jan Blachowicz at UFC 328?
Jan Blachowicz was originally scheduled to fight Bogdan Guskov in a light heavyweight rematch at UFC 328. However, Blachowicz withdrew from the event due to a torn meniscus. A replacement had not been confirmed at the time of writing. Their first fight at UFC 323 in December 2025 ended in a majority draw.
We have full coverage of recent UFC events in our MMA section at Unicorn Blogger. For context on how UFC judging works, read our UFC 10-point must system guide. And our post-UFC 327 analysis of the UFC pound-for-pound rankings after Ulberg’s title win is essential reading. Externally, UFC.com and Tapology’s UFC 328 page carry the full fight card and live results.
