UFC 328 has a stacked card, highlighted by the middleweight title between champion Khamzat Chimaev and challenger Sean Strickland. Below, we will take a betting glance at the main event and also give some wagering perspective on other key showdowns.
Khamzat Chimaev (-600) vs. Sean Strickland (+430)
There has been a war of words between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev over the past few months, so much so that UFC has reportedly hired extra security to keep the two separated prior to their Saturday fight.
Strickland, the instigator for most of the verbal vitriol, is a +430 moneyline underdog at Fanatics Sportsbook.
The American was a technical master in his last fight, a TKO win over Anthony Hernandez on Feb. 21, 2026. It was Strickland’s first UFC fight since he lost to Dricus Du Plessis on Feb. 8, 2025.
Strickland has had a wild ride over the past few years, as he won the middleweight title on Sept. 9, 2023 by beating Israel Adesanya by unanimous decision. It is considered one of the greatest upsets in UFC history as Strickland was a +500 underdog heading into the fight with Adesanya.
The Corona, California native lost the title in his very next UFC fight, a split decision to Du Plessis. Sandwiched in between his two losses to Du Plessis, Strickland won by split decision over Paulo Costa on June 1, 2024.
Chimaev, on the other hand, has steamrolled every competitor in his way. He has had 15 professional fights, and has won them all. A gifted wrestler, Chimaev has won six of those 15 fights via submission.
The Russian’s last fight was on Aug. 16, 2025 when he won the middleweight title via unanimous decision over Du Plessis. Chimaev set a UFC record for most total strikes landed in a fight with 529. Du Plessis landed just 45 strikes in the title bout with Chimaev.
Chimaev to beat Strickland via submission Saturday night in Newark is the most likely winning method as it has a +105 price at Fanatics Sportsbook. Here are all the winning method prices at Fanatics:
- Chimaev by submission: +105
- Chimaev by KO/TKO/DQ: +290
- Chimaev by decision: +330
- Strickland by decision: +900
- Strickland by KO/TKO/DQ: +1075
- Strickland by submission: +3500
- Draw: +5000
The odds at Fanatics Sportsbook for Chimaev versus Strickland to go the full five rounds is ‘Yes’ at +215 and ‘No’ at -285.
In Chimaev’s 15 pro fights, only one fight has gone the distance and it was his last one—the unanimous decision win over Du Plessis.
Strickland is much more apt to leave his fate in the hands of the judges as eight of his 24 fights under the UFC umbrella have gone five rounds. In fact, four-out-of-five of Strickland’s last five fights have gone the distance (two of which were against Du Plessis).
Here is a look at the top bouts, with Fanatics odds, on the rest of the UFC 328 card.
Joshua Van (+135) vs. Tatsuro Taira (-165)
The most likely outcome for Van vs. Taira is Taira by submission at +135.
Sean Brady (-180) vs. Joaquin Buckley (+145)
The most likely outcome for Brady vs. Buckley is Brady by decision at +165.
King Green (-425) vs. Jeremy Stephens (+320)
The most likely outcome for Green vs. Stephens is Green by decision at +120.
