The UFC returns to Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, May 9 for UFC 328, a pay per view event headlined by middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev defending his title against former champion Sean Strickland. But with ticket prices surging and sales reportedly sluggish, fans may want to catch the action from home and play along with free to play UFC Fantasy games for a chance to win cash prizes.

Event Details at a Glance

Event: UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland

Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026

Location: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey

Start Times: Prelims at 5:30 p.m. ET | Main Card at 9 p.m. ET

Streaming Platform: Paramount+

Ticket Sales Raise Eyebrows

With just two weeks until fight night, ticket sales for UFC 328 appear to be underperforming. According to a recent screenshot from Ticketmaster, the cheapest available seat, located in the highest sections of the Prudential Center, is priced at $386.

The sluggish sales come on the heels of UFC 327, which reportedly faced similar attendance issues. Fans appear hesitant to shell out nearly $400 for nosebleed seats in today's economy despite a title heavy main card.

Main Event: Chimaev vs. Strickland for Middleweight Gold

The main event features undefeated middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, now 16-0, making his first title defense against former champion Sean Strickland. Chimaev captured the belt at UFC 319 with a dominant unanimous decision win over Dricus du Plessis. Strickland earned his title shot by defeating Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez.

The two have engaged in a heated war of words leading into the fight, with Strickland daring Chimaev to a street fight and Dana White confirming extra security measures, including separate hotels for the fighters.

Co-Main Event: Van vs. Taira for Flyweight Title

Flyweight champion Joshua Van puts his belt on the line against top contender Tatsuro Taira in the co-main event. Van has dominated the division since capturing the title, while Taira enters on an impressive winning streak.

Full UFC 328 Main Card (9 p.m. ET on Paramount+)

185 lbs. Title: Khamzat Chimaev (c) vs. Sean Strickland

125 lbs. Title: Joshua Van (c) vs. Tatsuro Taira

275 lbs: Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes Acosta

170 lbs: Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley

205 lbs: Jan Blachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov 2

185 lbs: Ateba Gautier vs. Osman Diaz

UFC 328 Prelims Card (5:30 p.m. ET on Paramount+)

155 lbs.: King Green vs. Jeremy Stephens

185 lbs.: Roman Kopylov vs. Marco Tulio

125 lbs.: Clayton Carpenter vs. Jose Ochoa

185 lbs.: Baisangur Susurkaev vs. Djorden Santos

Play UFC Fantasy for UFC 328

Can't make it to Newark? Watch UFC 328 from home and put your fight knowledge to the test. Create your free to play UFC Fantasy lineup for the May 9 card. Pick the right fighters, predict finishes, and compete against your friends for a chance to win real cash prizes.

How it works:

Sign up for free. Create or join a group with friends. Select your fighters for the UFC 328 main card. Earn points based on finishes, bonuses, and fight stats. Win cash prizes.

Whether you are backing Chimaev to stay undefeated or Strickland to pull off the upset, UFC Fantasy makes every fight matter. Create your group today and prove you are the best fight analyst among your friends.

Why Ticket Sales Don't Matter for Fantasy Players

While slow ticket sales may raise questions about UFC 328's box office appeal, the fight card itself delivers compelling matchups from top to bottom. Two title fights, a heavyweight clash between Volkov and Cortes Acosta, and a pivotal welterweight bout between Brady and Buckley make this an ideal card for fantasy play.

The Blachowicz vs. Guskov rematch, following their majority draw at UFC 323, adds another layer of intrigue. With Blachowicz recovering from a torn meniscus suffered in training camp, questions remain about his availability, though the fight remains scheduled.

Final Thoughts

UFC 328 offers fans two championship fights, meaningful divisional matchups, and potential breakout performances. Whether you are watching on Paramount+ or following along online, UFC Fantasy turns every punch, takedown, and submission into points on your leaderboard.

Don't miss out. Sign up for UFC Fantasy today, build your lineup for May 9, and compete for cash prizes. The fights are free to watch. The fantasy game is free to play. The prizes are real.