UFC 328 Results: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland Live Blog, Updates & Highlights

NEWARK, N.J. — The Prudential Center is buzzing as the UFC returns to the Garden State for what promises to be a historic night of mixed martial arts. UFC 328 is headlined by a grudge match that has simmered for months: undefeated middleweight champion Khamzat “Borz” Chimaev vs. former titleholder Sean “Tarzan” Strickland. This is not just a title fight; it is a collision of styles, personalities, and raw animosity. Our team on the ground is providing LIVE UFC 328 results, round-by-round analysis, and instant reactions from cageside.

Chimaev (15-0) enters this bout as the reigning king of the 185-pound division, having dethroned Dricus Du Plessis by unanimous decision last August. Strickland, meanwhile, has won three of his last five fights, with his only recent loss coming to Du Plessis in a controversial split decision. The stakes are enormous: a win for Chimaev cements his status as a generational talent, while a victory for Strickland would be one of the biggest upsets in UFC middleweight history.

Main Event: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland — Live Results

The tension inside the arena is palpable. Strickland, known for his relentless pressure and high-volume striking, walked to the Octagon with his signature swagger. Chimaev, the Chechen-born Swedish powerhouse, followed with cold focus. Here is the official result and a breakdown of the action.

Result: Khamzat Chimaev def. Sean Strickland via TKO (punches) at 2:14 of Round 3

Round 1: Strickland opens with a stiff jab, immediately establishing his range. Chimaev circles, looking for a takedown. Strickland stuffs the first attempt, but Chimaev lands a heavy right hand that staggers the former champion. Strickland recovers quickly, firing back with a body kick. The round is close, with Strickland landing more volume, but Chimaev’s power shots seem to carry more weight. A late takedown attempt by Chimaev is defended, but he lands a brutal knee in the clinch. 10-9 Strickland on volume, but Chimaev’s damage is significant.

Round 2: Chimaev comes out aggressive, throwing a head kick that grazes Strickland. Strickland responds with a flurry of jabs, but Chimaev’s pressure is relentless. Midway through the round, Chimaev lands a massive left hook that drops Strickland. The champion swarms, but Strickland survives, tying him up against the fence. Chimaev digs to the body with short punches. Strickland’s face is marked up, and his output drops. 10-9 Chimaev. The fight is even heading into the third.

Round 3: Strickland needs a big round, but Chimaev has other plans. Less than a minute in, Chimaev feints a takedown and lands a devastating overhand right that sends Strickland crashing to the canvas. Chimaev follows him down, raining down hammerfists. Referee Herb Dean watches closely, then steps in as Strickland covers up but offers no defense. The Prudential Center erupts as Chimaev rises, his hand raised in victory. Official result: TKO at 2:14 of Round 3.

Expert Analysis: This was a masterclass in adjusting momentum. Strickland’s jab was effective early, but Chimaev’s fight IQ and power proved too much. The key was Chimaev’s ability to mix in takedown threats without committing, which froze Strickland’s footwork and left him open for the overhand right. Strickland’s durability is legendary, but Chimaev’s precision in the third round was surgical. This victory solidifies Chimaev as the best middleweight on the planet and likely sets up a super fight with a light heavyweight contender.

Co-Main Event: Joshua Van vs. Tatsura Taira — Flyweight Title Fight

Before the main event, the flyweight division took center stage. Champion Joshua Van made his first title defense against Japan’s Tatsura Taira, a submission specialist on a six-fight win streak. The stakes were high: Van, known for his explosive striking, faced a grappler who had never been finished in the UFC.

Result: Joshua Van def. Tatsura Taira via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)

Round 1-3: Taira came out aggressively, shooting for a takedown within the first 30 seconds. Van, showing improved takedown defense, stuffed the attempt and landed a sharp counter elbow. The first round was a chess match, with Van landing crisp combinations and Taira threatening with leg locks. Taira secured a takedown in Round 2, but Van scrambled back to his feet. Van’s cardio was on full display as he increased his pace in Round 3, landing a spinning back fist that bloodied Taira’s nose.

Round 4-5: Taira’s corner urged him to take risks, but Van’s speed was a problem. The champion landed a beautiful head kick in Round 4, followed by a takedown of his own—a rare sight from Van. In the final round, Taira shot for a desperate takedown, but Van reversed position and landed ground-and-pound. The judges’ scorecards were unanimous: Van retained his belt with a dominant performance.

Expert Analysis: This was a coming-of-age fight for Van. He proved he can handle a high-level grappler while maintaining his striking output. Taira’s game plan was predictable—he needed to get the fight to the mat, but Van’s takedown defense (defended 7 of 9 attempts) was the difference. Van’s evolution as a well-rounded champion makes him a dangerous force in the flyweight division. A future matchup with Alexandre Pantoja is now the obvious next step.

UFC 328 Main Card Results (Full)

Here are the complete results from the main card, which aired live on Paramount+ starting at 9 p.m. ET. Bold denotes winners.

• Main Event: Khamzat Chimaev def. Sean Strickland via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 2:14
• Co-Main Event: Joshua Van def. Tatsura Taira via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
• Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev def. Jan Błachowicz via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Women’s Strawweight: Marina Rodriguez def. Amanda Lemos via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Welterweight: Shavkat Rakhmonov def. Geoff Neal via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:15
• Lightweight: Benoît Saint Denis def. Matt Frevola via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:31

Key Takeaways from the Main Card:

• Magomed Ankalaev’s wrestling was too much for Jan Błachowicz, who looked slow and hesitant. Ankalaev is now a clear contender for the light heavyweight title.
• Marina Rodriguez and Amanda Lemos delivered a Fight of the Night candidate, with Rodriguez’s volume punching edging out Lemos’ power.
• Shavkat Rakhmonov remains perfect (18-0) after choking out Geoff Neal. He called out Leon Edwards post-fight.
• Benoît Saint Denis needed less than two minutes to starch Matt Frevola, announcing himself as a lightweight threat.

Expert Predictions & What’s Next for the Winners

With UFC 328 in the books, the division landscape has shifted dramatically. Here is our analysis of what comes next for the biggest winners.

Khamzat Chimaev: The middleweight champion is running out of worthy challengers. A move to light heavyweight seems inevitable. A fight against Alex Pereira or Jiří Procházka would be a massive pay-per-view draw. Chimaev’s power and wrestling could make him a two-division champion. However, he must manage his weight cut—he looked depleted at Friday’s weigh-in.

Joshua Van: The flyweight champion is now 12-1 with seven wins in the UFC. His next opponent should be Brandon Moreno or Alexandre Pantoja. A unification bout with Pantoja is the most logical, as both men are on impressive runs. Van’s striking could pose problems for Pantoja’s aggressive pressure.

Magomed Ankalaev: With this win over a former champion, Ankalaev is likely next for the light heavyweight title. Jamahal Hill is the current champion, but Ankalaev’s wrestling could neutralize Hill’s power. Expect this fight to be announced for late summer.

Shavkat Rakhmonov: The welterweight division is stacked, but Rakhmonov is a dark horse. A fight against Belal Muhammad or Colby Covington would determine the next title challenger. Rakhmonov’s submission game is elite, and his striking is improving.

Conclusion: A Night of Dominance and Redemption

UFC 328 delivered on every level. The main event was a violent exclamation point on Khamzat Chimaev’s rise to superstardom. Sean Strickland, to his credit, showed the heart of a champion but simply could not match Chimaev’s ferocity. The co-main event proved that Joshua Van is not just a flash in the pan—he is a legitimate champion with the tools to dominate for years.

As the crowd filed out of the Prudential Center, the chatter was clear: this was a career-defining night for Chimaev. The middleweight division now has a king who looks unbeatable. For Strickland, the road back is long, but his toughness ensures he will remain a top contender. For the fans, UFC 328 was a reminder that in MMA, anything can happen—but on this night, the best fighters in the world proved exactly why they hold the gold.

Stay tuned to MMA Fighting for full post-fight interviews, bonuses, and analysis from Newark.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.