Chimaev and Strickland Hit the Scales Ahead of UFC 328 Showdown

May 8, 2026 - 06:51

Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland both made weight Friday morning ahead of their highly anticipated middleweight clash at UFC 328. The weigh-in, held at the UFC host hotel in Las Vegas, saw both fighters come in on the nose at 185 pounds, officially setting the stage for Saturday night's main event.

Chimaev, the undefeated Chechen-born fighter, stepped on the scale first, appearing calm and focused. He has not fought since his dominant submission win over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman last year. Strickland, the former middleweight champion, followed shortly after, flexing for the crowd and exchanging a few words with Chimaev before officials separated them.

The tension between the two has been building for weeks. Strickland has repeatedly questioned Chimaev's resume, pointing out that the hype around him outpaces his actual accomplishments inside the Octagon. Chimaev, in turn, has dismissed Strickland as a loudmouth who talks more than he fights.

This bout carries major implications for the middleweight division. A win for Chimaev could earn him a title shot against current champion Dricus du Plessis. For Strickland, a victory would put him right back in the conversation for another crack at the belt he lost earlier this year.

Fighters on the undercard also made weight without major issues. The only hiccup came from a preliminary card fighter who missed by two pounds but agreed to forfeit a portion of his purse to proceed with the bout.

Doors open at 3 p.m. local time Saturday, with the main card scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.