One of the most anticipated fights of the year headlines a stacked card capped off with two title fights as UFC 328 takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The main event sees a heated rivalry culminate in a championship setting as UFC Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev defends against former UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland. Chimaev is making his first title defense after defeating Dricus Du Plessis for the title in August. Strickland gets his long-awaited chance to regain championship gold following his win over Anthony Hernandez in February.
The co-main event sees a second title fight as UFC Flyweight Champion Joshua Van defends against Tatsuro Taira. Van is making his first title defense after winning the flyweight title from Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323 in December. Taira gets his chance to become the first-ever Japanese UFC Champion on the heels of two straight wins.
Also on the main card is a heavyweight bout pitting Alexander Volkov against Waldo Cortes-Acosta; a welterweight fight between Sean Brady and Joaquin Buckley; and a battle of long-time UFC veterans as King Green takes on Jeremy Stephens.
PRELIMS | 5 PM ET | 2 PM PT
> Flyweights- Clayton Carpenter (8-2, 2-2 UFC) vs. Jose Ochoa (8-2 1 NC, 1-2 UFC)
They come out trading and Ochoa lands a stiff left hand. Carpenter lands a left hook. Ochoa lands a combination. They trade kicks and Ochoa lands a pair of body shots. Carpenter looks for a takedown, but Ochoa grabs the neck and they get to the feet. Ochoa lands to the body. They both swing in close range. Ochoa with a front kick to the body. Ochoa lands to the body and follows it with a combination. Ochoa is working the body of Carpenter well. They trade leg kicks. They clinch and Carpenter lands a few knees. They separate and Ochoa lands a flurry. Ochoa lands a lot against the fence and down goes Carpenter. Carpenter gets up looking for a takedown and attacks the leg. Ochoa defends with some hammerfists and Carpenter is leaking from his nose. They get to their feet. They trade right hands. 10-9 Ochoa.
Carpenter lands a leg kick. Ochoa lands a combination. Ochoa lands a big flurry to the head and body against the fence. Ochoa lands to the body and Carpenter lands a body kick. Carpenter catches a kick and jumps on the back of Ochoa standing. Ochoa shakes him off but Carpenter grabs a leg. They get to their feet and both land combinations. They trade leg kicks. Carpenter lands a left hook as Ochoa throws a kick. They trade as Carpenter comes forward. Ochoa lands a spinning back fist. Ochoa lands a switch kick right to the chin of Carpenter. 10-9 Ochoa, 20-18 Ochoa.
Ochoa pressing forward and mixing punches and kicks to start the third. Ochoa looks for a jumping knee but Carpenter catches him and scores a takedown. Ochoa landing from the bottom as Carpenter is looking to set up a choke. Ochoa with more body shots from the bottom. Carpenter looks for the back but is too high and Ochoa shakes him off as they get to their feet. Ochoa lands a combination. Ochoa lands a big flurry against the fence. Carpenter circles away and lands a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Ochoa works the jab and Carpenter lands a pair of body kicks. They trade and Ochoa lands a pair of stiff jabs. Ochoa lands a big series of punches. 10-9 Ochoa, 30-27 Ochoa.
Fight Result- Jose Ochoa def. Clayton Carpenter by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Middleweights- Baisangur Susurkaev (11-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. Djorden Santos (11-2, 1-1 UFC)
Susurkaev lands a front kick to the body. Susurkaev lands a pair of kicks. Susurkaev with a combo ending with a head kick and then lands a body kick. Santos lands a calf kick. Santos lands a pair of leg kicks. Susurkaev with a big right hand. Susurkaev lands some more kicks. They trade and both land leg kicks. Susurkaev with a body kick and Santos lands a combo. They trade late. 10-9 Susurkaev.
Both are landing to start the second with Susurkaev landing with more volume. Susurkaev lands some leg kicks and combinations. Santos with an uppercut. They trade right hands. Santos lands an elbow. They trade inside the pocket. Santos grabs the body lock and pushes Susurkaev against the fence. Susurkaev is playing to the crowd as Santos is just holding on. They separate. Susurkaev lands a combination and Santos lands an uppercut. They trade late. 10-9 Susurkaev, 20-18 Susurkaev.
They both come out landing as Susurkaev lands to the body and Santos lands a small flurry. Susurkaev lands a right hand followed by a low kick. Susurkaev grabs the body lock and pushes it against the fence. They break apart and Susurkaev lands an uppercut. They trade in close range. Susurkaev lands a pair of big punches and Santos looked stunned briefly. They clinch and Susurkaev gets a takedown and starts landing from the back. Susurkaev locks in a rear-naked choke. It is in tight and Santos goes out cold! Susurkaev remains undefeated.
Fight Result- Baisangur Susurkaev def. Djorden Santos by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:12 of Round 3
> Featherweights- Pat Sabatini (21-5, 8-2 UFC) vs. William Gomis (15-3, 5-1 UFC)
Sabatini immediately shoots for a takedown against the fence. Gomis is defending. Sabatini almost gets it down but Gomis keeps it upright. Sabatini gets the back as he’s still attacking for a takedown. Sabatini lands some punches from the back. Gomis spins and lands a knee as Sabatini keeps body control. Sabatini lands a knee. Gomis gives his back up and Sabatini lands some knees and right hands. Sabatini continues to attack a single leg. Gomis lands some and Sabatini gets a takedown. They get up at the horn. 10-9 Sabatini.
Sabatini pressing forward and throws some strikes as he shoots for a takedown and pushes it against the fence. Sabatini has neck control. Sabatini attacking the leg and is able to get a big takedown and takes the back of Gomis as they work to the feet. They break apart and Sabatini lands a right hand. Gomis lands a body kick. They tie up and both land while clinched before separating. They trade and both connect late. 10-9 Sabatini, 20-18 Sabatini.
Sabatini lands a pair of leg kicks. Sabatini with a leg kick and a right hand. Sabatini shoots for a takedown but Gomis sprawls and Gomis lands an elbow. They trade kicks. Sabatini lands a right hand and looks for a takedown against the fence. Sabatini with some short knees. Sabatini is working for the takedown as he has control of a leg. Sabatini lands to the body and gets Gomis to the mat. They get up and Sabatini has back control along the fence. Gomis lands a pair of elbows as Sabatini is working to get it down. Sabatini holds Gomis against the fence to the end. 10-9 Sabatini, 30-27 Sabatini.
Fight Result- Pat Sabatini def. William Gomis by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
> Middleweights- Roman Kopylov (14-5, 6-5 UFC) vs. Marco Tulio (14-2, 2-1 UFC)
They trade leg kicks as Tulio lands to the body. Tulio with a right hand but Kopylov circles away at the right moment. They both land leg kicks. Kopylov lands a body kick. Kopylov lands a combination. Tulio with a high kick. Tulio lands a right hand. Kopylov with a left hand. Tulio lands a head kick. Tulio with a straight right hand. Kopylov with a high kick and he lands a combination. Tulio with a high kick. They trade punches. 10-9 Tulio.
Kopylov lands a big right hook to start the second. Tulio works the jab and Kopylov lands a combination. Kopylov with a combination. Both connect and Tulio lands a combination. Tulio with a high kick. Kopylov lands a left hand as Tulio threw a high kick. Tulio lands a right hand. Tulio lands another right hand. Kopylov is bleeding around his eye. Kopylov lands a combination. Kopylov drops Tulio with a punch and starts landing as Tulio stands. Kopylov landing punches and Tulio goes back down. Kopylov landing from the top and Tulio gets to his feet and Kopylov grabs the body lock. 10-9 Kopylov, 19-19.
Kopylov drops Tulio again with another left hand. Tulio gets up but gets dropped again after a big combination from Kopylov. Kopylov is landing and Tulio stands. Kopylov gets a takedown. Kopylov lands from the top and they get back to their feet. They separate. Tulio lands a leg kick as Kopylov lands a jab. Kopylov lands a body kick as Tulio connects with a few punches. Kopylov lands a left hand. Kopylov with a high kick. Kopylov with a right hook. Tulio with a spin kick. They trade big punches at the end. 10-9 Kopylov, 29-28 Kopylov.
Fight Result- Roman Kopylov def. Marco Tulio by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Lightweights- Jim Miller (38-19 1 NC, 27-18 1 NC UFC) vs. Jared Gordon (21-8 1 NC, 9-7 1 NC UFC)
Gordon with a high kick as Miller lands a right hand. Miller lands a combination against the fence and Gordon was briefly hurt. They clinch and separate as Gordon lands a body kick. Miller throws a kick and Gordon grabs the leg and gets a brief takedown. They get to their feet. They trade combinations after a brief timeout for a groin strike. Miller lands a right hook. Miller grabs a guillotine choke as they go to the mat. It is in deep and Gordon is trying to fight it off. Gordon taps! Miller picks up yet another UFC win!
Fight Result- Jim Miller def. Jared Gordon by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:29 of Round 1
> Lightweights- Grant Dawson (23-3-1, 11-2-1 UFC) vs. Mateusz Rebecki (20-4, 4-3 UFC)
Dawson lands a head kick and a knee. Dawson lands a knee as Rebecki looks for a takedown and they scramble on the mat. Dawson lands a knee as they sprawl up. Dawson gets the back of Rebecki as they get to the fence. Dawson is on the back of Rebecki as they stand. Rebecki is busted open around his eye and Dawson gets a pair of warnings about grabbing the fence. Dawson is attacking for a choke but lets go to land punches. Rebecki is able to spin into top control. Rebecki has the back as they get up. Rebecki with some punches from the back. Dawson lands a short elbow. Rebecki lands an uppercut as they separate. Rebecki with a right hand. Dawson lands a right hand and Rebecki sweeps his leg to the mat. 10-9 Dawson.
Dawson lands a knee and body kick. Dawson with another pair of body kicks. They trade and Rebecki lands a right hand and Dawson goes to his butt. Rebecki landing punches from the back. Rebecki has back control against the fence on the feet. Rebecki with some right hands from the back. Rebecki lands as they separate. Dawson lands a head kick. Dawson lands a body kick as Rebecki lands a left hand. Dawson with a leg kick. Dawson pressuring with lots of volume. Rebecki lands a right hand. Dawson with a combination. They trade leg kicks. Rebecki lands a left hand. Dawson lands a combo. Rebecki lands a right hand and then another right hook. Dawson with a knee to the body then a high kick. Rebecki scores a takedown. 10-9 Rebecki, 19-19.
Dawson lands a high kick but slips to the mat. They scramble and Dawson gets on the back of Rebecki. Dawson has the body triangle locked on. Dawson is looking for a rear-naked choke but Rebecki defends. Dawson almost had it in but let go as Rebecki defended. Dawson lands some punches and goes back for the choke. Dawson lets go and keeps back control and lands more punches. Dawson smothering from the back and attacks a choke. Dawson looks for the choke and has it in and Rebecki taps!
Fight Result- Grant Dawson def. Mateusz Rebecki by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:42 of Round 3
> Welterweights- Joel Alvarez (23-3, 8-2 UFC) vs. #14 Yaroslav Amosov (29-1, 1-0 UFC)
Amosov lands some leg kicks and connects with some punches and scores a takedown. They stand and Amosov is looking for a standing arm-triangle choke. He lets go and gets Alvarez back down to the mat. They get up and Amosov has back control and lands some punches. Amosov gets a late takedown. 10-9 Amosov.
Alvarez throws a combo but eats a counter right hand by Amosov. Amosov with a high kick. Amosov lands a pair of leg kicks. Alvarez lands some punches. Amosov gets the back and scores a big takedown. Amosov gets on top and locks in an arm-triangle choke and Alvarez taps! Amosov with a dominant win and he celebrates by break dancing.
Fight Result- Yaroslav Amosov def. Joel Alvarez by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 1:13 of Round 2
> Middleweights- Ateba Gautier (10-1, 4-0 UFC) vs. Ozzy Diaz (10-3, 1-1 UFC)
Gautier lands a calf kick. Gautier lands a left hand followed by an uppercut. Gautier with a combination. Gautier with a left hand. Diaz lands a right hand. Gautier lands and Diaz forces a clinch. Diaz works hard for a takedown but Gautier lands a knee on the break. Gautier lands a right hand. Gautier with a calf kick. Diaz lands a jab. Gautier with an uppercut. They trade jabs. Diaz looks for a takedown and gets the back of Gautier against the fence. 10-9 Gautier.
Gautier lands to the body. Gautier with a high kick and a right hand to the body. Diaz lands a right hand. Gautier lands a right hand and Diaz goes down and some follow-up shots end it. Diaz was protesting but he was in real trouble. Gautier picks up another big win.
Fight Result- Ateba Gautier def. Ozzy Diaz by knockout (punch) at 1:10 of Round 2
MAIN CARD | 9 PM ET | 6 PM PT
> Lightweights*- King Green (34-17-1 1 NC, 15-12-1 1 NC UFC) vs. Jeremy Stephens (29-22 1 NC, 15-19 1 NC UFC)
*Stephens missed weight by four pounds
Green lands a left hand. Stephens lands a leg kick. They clinch and Stephens lands a right hand as they break. Green lands a big jab and then hurts Stephens with a left hand. Green lands a combo and has Stephens in trouble. Green then lands a kick right to the groin and timeout is called. They return to action and Green lands a combo and a body kick. Green gets a takedown and starts landing a big flurry from the top. Green with some big elbows and tons of left hands from the top. Stephens looks for an arm but Green lands big elbows and is teeing off from the top. Green gets the back and locks in a tight rear-naked choke and Stephens taps!
Fight Result- King Green def. Jeremy Stephens by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:20 of Round 1
> Welterweights- #6 Sean Brady (18-2, 8-2 UFC) vs. #9 Joaquin Buckley (21-7, 11-5 UFC)
Brady lands a left hand and looks for a takedown. Brady looks for a takedown but Buckley defends. Brady lands a left hand. Buckley lands a leg kick but Brady is able to turn it into a takedown. Brady gets the mount and is landing a lot of punches. Brady with lots of shots and Buckley is in big trouble. Brady landing a lot and looks for an arm for a kimura. Buckley is trying to fight it. Brady lands on top to end the round. 10-9 Brady.
Brady lands a head kick. Brady gets the back and drags Buckley to the mat. Brady gets into side control. Brady controlling and landing and looked for a choke, but Buckley forced a scramble up. Buckley looked to land and throws a kick, but Brady catches it and scores a takedown. Brady gets the mount and is landing lots of punches. Buckley is blocking a lot of them, but Brady starts landing elbows. Brady with lots of shots from the top. Brady lands a big elbow and ends the round in the mount. 10-9 Brady, 20-18 Brady.
Brady looks for a takedown, but Buckley defends. Brady shoots for another takedown and pushes Buckley to the fence. Brady completes the takedown. Brady gets the mount and is landing lots of punches as Buckley is pinned on the bottom. Brady landing a lot from the top. Brady with elbows and punches from the top. Just complete dominance so far. Brady with tons of shots from the top as he is pouring it on late. 10-8 Brady, 30-26 Brady.
Fight Result- Sean Brady def. Joaquin Buckley by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-27)
> Heavyweights- #2 Alexander Volkov (39-11, 13-5 UFC) vs. #4 Waldo Cortes-Acosta (17-2, 10-2 UFC)
Volkov with a pair of inside leg kicks. They trade leg kicks. Volkov lands some more leg kicks. Cortes-Acosta lands a stiff jab. Volkov with more inside leg kicks. He lands some more and Cortes-Acosta fires some punches in there, but nothing really connects. Volkov lands a leg kick and a left hand as Cortes-Acosta was rushing in. They trade leg kicks. Cortes-Acosta lands a jab. They both land big punches in close range. They trade leg kicks. Volkov with a body kick. Cortes-Acosta lands a left hand. Volkov with more leg kicks. 10-9 Volkov.
They both land big punches to start the second. Volkov lands a leg kick. Cortes-Acosta lands a right hand. They trade leg kicks. They trade leg kicks. Volkov with an inside leg kick and Cortes-Acosta lands a right hand. Cortes-Acosta swings big but just misses. Cortes-Acosta lands a jab. Volkov hurts Cortes-Acosta with a left hand and Cortes-Acosta backs up. Volkov lands a combo. Cortes-Acosta lands a leg kick. Volkov with a kick to the body. Volkov lands a pair of jabs and a leg kick. Volkov hurts Cortes-Acosta with a leg kick and then a body kick. 10-9 Volkov, 20-18 Volkov.
Volkov lands a body kick. Volkov with a pair of kicks. Timeout is called after an eye poke by Cortes-Acosta. They get back going and Cortes-Acosta lands a combination. Cortes-Acosta lands a right hand. Volkov lands a stiff jab. Volkov lands a jab and a body kick. Cortes-Acosta misses a right hand but lands a jab. Volkov is bleeding from the nose. Cortes-Acosta connects. Cortes-Acosta lands an uppercut. Volkov lands a body kick. Volkov with a body kick and Cortes-Acosta looks for a takedown. Cortes-Acosta lands a knee as they separate. Volkov with a body kick. Cortes-Acosta lands a right hand. Volkov lands a stiff jab. Volkov with a front kick to the body followed by a right hand. Volkov lands a calf kick. Cortes-Acosta lands a combo. Cortes-Acosta with a right hand. 10-9 Cortes-Acosta, 29-28 Volkov.
Fight Result- Alexander Volkov def. Waldo Cortes-Acosta by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
> UFC Flyweight Championship- C Joshua Van (16-2, 9-1 UFC) vs. #3 Tatsuro Taira (18-1, 8-1 UFC)
Taira lands a calf kick. Taira with another calf kick. Taira shoots for a takedown and pushes it against the fence. Taira scores the takedown and gets right into the mount. Taira controlling from the top and gets into side control. Van tries to get up and Taira has neck control. Van is able to get to his feet. Van lands a jab. Taira with a leg kick. Taira gets another takedown. They get to their feet and Taira has Van pinned against the fence. Taira lands some knees. Taira gets it back down and lands some shots as they stand. 10-9 Taira.
Taira lands a combination. Taira shoots for a takedown and pushes it against the fence. Van is fighting the hands. Taira lands a knee and separates. Taira with a right hand. He lands another. Van lands a jab. Van lands another and is connecting as he lands a right hand. Taira scores a takedown. Taira controlling from the top. Taira gets the mount. Van with some elbows to the body from the bottom. Taira attacking the neck and looks for a D’Arce choke. They stand and separate. Van drops Taira with a right hand and starts landing from the top. Van lands from the top but Taira is able to survive. 10-9 Van, 19-19.
Taira is chasing the takedown as Van is stalking him. Taira lands a jab. Van lands a combination. Van lands some big punches. Taira shoots for a takedown but Van defends. Van lands a big combination to the head and body. Van with a jab and a right hand. Taira lands a calf kick. Taira shoots for a takedown but Van lands a big knee. Van follows with a flurry and Taira circles away. Van lands a big uppercut and then a right hand. Van with a double jab and Taira goes down. Van starts landing shots from the top. They get up and Van drags Taira down. Van looking for a rear-naked choke. Van landing left hands. They get to their feet. Taira lands a left hand. Van with two right hands. Van with an uppercut. Taira shoots for a takedown but Van defends. Taira scores a takedown. They get up. Taira lands a left hand. 10-9 Van, 29-28 Van.
Taira lands a heavy calf kick. Taira lands an uppercut and they trade punches. Taira shoots for a takedown and is able to score it. Taira is able to work his way to the mount position. Taira is smothering from the top. Taira lands an elbow. Van is able to spin to the top and Taira goes for a triangle choke. Van escapes and they stand. They trade jabs. Van hurts Taira with a right hand and some follow-up punches. They trade. Taira shoots for a takedown but Van defends against the fence. They separate as Van lands a jab. 10-9 Taira, 38-38.
Van landing to start the round as he connects with a right hand. Taira lands a right hand. Taira shoots for a takedown but Van defends it. Van lands a combo. Taira gets a clinch but Van connects to the body to break it. Taira looks for a takedown but Van defends and lands to the body. Van lands some big shots and Taira is having trouble on his feet but stays on it though it it stopped! Van picks up the win and keeps the title.
Fight Result- Joshua Van def. Tatsuro Taira by TKO (punches) at 1:32 of Round 5 to retain the UFC Flyweight Championship
> UFC Middleweight Championship- C Khamzat Chimaev (15-0, 9-0 UFC) vs. #3 Sean Strickland (30-7, 17-7 UFC)
Chimaev with a body kick. Chimaev gets a takedown. Chimaev gets the back and is keeping Strickland down. He is looking to lock in a choke. Chimaev with a left hand. Chimaev gets the hooks locked in. Chimaev lets the hooks go but keeps full back control. Chimaev gets the mount position and lands a right hand. He gets the back of Strickland as they stand and gets it right back down. Chimaev looks for the choke and has it around the chin. Strickland defends. 10-9 Chimaev.
Chimaev lands a right hand. Strickland with a jab. Strickland just misses a right hand. Strickland with a counter right hand after Chimaev lands to the body. They trade jabs and Strickland lands a right hand. Chimaev shoots for a takedown but Strickland defends and is on top. Strickland with a left hand from the top. They get to their feet. Strickland lands a right hand. Chimaev shoots for a takedown but Strickland defends. Strickland gets on top and lands some big ground strikes. Strickland controlling from the top. 10-9 Strickland, 19-19.
They trade jabs and Chimaev lands a right hand. Strickland works the jab and Chimaev lands two kicks. Strickland with a combination. Both are working the jab. Strickland just working the jab and lands a right hand. Strickland with a right hand. Strickland lands a big right hand. Chimaev is pushing forward and lands to the body as Strickland works the jab. Strickland tagging Chimaev with the jab. Strickland landing the jab and Chimaev lands a right hand. They’re trading jabs. They continue to trade and Strickland is getting the better of it. 10-9 Strickland, 29-28 Strickland.
They trade jabs. They trade and Strickland circles away. Strickland peppering punches in there. Chimaev lands a leg kick and a body shot. Chimaev lands a big right hand. Chimaev lands a body kick. Strickland is working the jab but it doesn’t have the same impact. Strickland then lands a right hand. Chimaev with a right hand. Chimaev with a left hook to the body and lands a right hand. They trade jabs. Chimaev lands to the body. Strickland continues to work the jab. Chimaev scores a takedown. Chimaev gets the back of Strickland. Chimaev landing as he has control. Chimaev keeps the back. 10-9 Chimaev, 38-38.
Chimaev gets the takedown and has the back as they work to the fence and to their feet. Strickland spins and Chimaev still has control against the fence. Chimaev attacking the back. Strickland with a knee and Chimaev lands to the body as they separate. They trade jabs. They trade them again. Chimaev lands a right hand. Strickland lands a right hand. Chimaev lands a calf kick. Strickland works the jab. Chimaev is pressing forward. Strickland lands a jab. Chimaev scores with a right hand. Chimaev scores a takedown but they get to their feet. Chimaev holding onto Strickland’s back. Chimaev lands to the body as they break apart. Strickland lands a right hand. Chimaev with a big right hand. Strickland lands a jab. Close fight. 10-9 Chimaev, 48-47 Chimaev.
Fight Result- Sean Strickland def. Khamzat Chimaev by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) to win the UFC Middleweight Championship
