UFC 328 Preview: Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev Clash in Heated Rivalry
The UFC returns to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey this weekend with a stacked card headlined by Middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev against Sean Strickland.
This will be Chimaev’s first title defence since beating former champion Dricus Du Plessis for the title last August in a dominating 5 round decision victory. Whilst Strickland is coming off an impressive third-round stoppage win against Anthony Hernandez back in February.
Strickland and Chimaev have had a heated rivalry in the buildup to this fight with both fighters having many altercations during the buildup with Strickland even threatening to shoot the champion if he tried to attack him in the street.
The controversial American will be the underdog going into the main event as he looks to become Middleweight champion for the second time in his career. Strickland will need to pressure the champion and prevent any takedowns from Chimaev if he stands any chance of walking away with gold on Saturday night. As keeping the fight on the feet away from Chimaev’s impressive grappling may be the only path to victory against the undefeated champion.
In the co – main event, newly crowned Flyweight champion Joshua Van looks to defend his title against rising Japanese star Tatsuro Taira. This fight was originally scheduled to take place month at UFC 327 in Miami but due to an injury to Van the fight was moved to this Saturday night.
Van defeated former champion Alexandre Pantoja in controversial fashion after Pantoja dislocated his elbow in the first 26 seconds of the fight in a freak injury to give the 24-year-old his first UFC title. Taira is coming off a dominant win over former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno in a statement win to crown him as the number one contender.
The two well rounded fighters will look to put on a technical display in the Prudential Center as Van and Taira have the potential to put on one of the most competitive fights in the UFC this year.
