UFC 328 predictions

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 16: Joe Rogan talks to Khamzat Chimaev of the United Arab Emirates after his middleweight title bout victory in UFC 319 at the United Center on August 16, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images Khamzat Chimaev, Sean Strickland, the time for talk is (thankfully) over. We all knew the buildup for Saturday’s UFC 328 main event would be ugly, but I’m not sure we expected the majority of the Chimaev-Strickland feud to revolve around them threatening to—putting it in family friendly terms—“pew pew” each other in the event of an out-of-the-cage altercation.

It’s all been so unnecessary, especially since this matchup is compelling enough on its own from a competitive standpoint. On one side you have Chimaev, the indomitable middleweight champion who has yet to taste defeat; on the other, Strickland, a former champion widely regarded as one of the most difficult matchups at 185 pounds whether you’re an all-time great like Israel Adesanya or a white-hot contender like Anthony Hernandez. It wouldn’t be the craziest thing for Chimaev’s aura of invincibility to be cracked by Strickland.

He’s already annihilated the pound-for-pound rankings once. Flying well under the radar is the co-main event between Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira. After winning the title via a freak Alexandre Pantoja injury this past December, Van has been champing at the bit for his chance to prove he’s the legitimate No.

1 flyweight in the world. Now he has to face another Gen Z standout in Taira, who proved his championship mettle with a spectacular win over all-time great Brandon Moreno. In other main card action, heavyweight contenders Alexander Volkov and Waldo Cortes-Acosta throw down, Sean Brady and Joaquin Buckley look to bounce back from losses to keep their spot in the busy welterweight contender line, and lightweight lifers King Green and Jeremy Stephens face off.