Dana White confirms Khamzat Chimaev to defend middleweight title against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 - 'The fight people have been waiting for'
Published 13/03/2026 at 22:19 GMT
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Khamzat Chimaev will defend his UFC middleweight title with a bout against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 - and Dana White is wondering how much security he needs for the May 9 event in Newark. Former champion Strickland lined up another shot at the title by beating Anthony Hernandez.
Highlights: Strickland halts Hernandez with third-round salvo
Video credit: TNT Sports
Khamzat Chimaev will face Sean Strickland at UFC 328 - and Dana White is calling for extra security.
White, president and CEO of UFC, has announced a number of fights that will take place between now and the UFC White House event in the summer.
The biggest of them all is Chimaev’s defence of his middleweight title against Strickland in Newark, New Jersey, on May 9. Chimaev, 31, won the belt from Dricus du Plessis last August and 35-year-old former champion Strickland got himself another shot at the title when he beat Anthony Hernandez in February.
"The main event is the fight people have been waiting for - for a long time," said White.
"Strickland looked incredible in his last performance [against Hernandez].
"And, you know, how much security do you think we're going to need?"
Strickland, who lost to Du Plessis in February 2025, had called out Chimeav after beating Hernandez.
"Chimaev probably gets off the bench," said Strickland. "You never know with him. You never know with that guy but that’s what I want."
White also announced British fighter Arnold Allen's next fight. The 32-year-old will take on Melquizael Costa in Las Vegas on May 16.
Allen goes into the fight on the back of a fourth career defeat, having lost to Jean Silva in January. Costa, 29, has won his past six bouts.
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- Topuria v Gaethje to headline UFC White House event
Meanwhile, the UFC White House event, first announced by US President Donald Trump last year, will be headlined by Ilia Topuria v Justin Gaethje.
"Right now, the time is right for Ilia Topuria, and it should be explosive," said White.
"This card was a lot more difficult than we anticipated but we got it done. A fight fell through last night, and the team were working on it the entire night."
The event has been named UFC Freedom 250, to mark 250 years of American independence.
It will be the first professional live sporting event to take place on the Washington DC grounds, with the bouts set to be held on the White House's South Lawn.
The UFC is reportedly expected to spend around $60 million on the event, while White has said there will be about 5,000 spectators on the South Lawn, though tickets will not be available to the public.
All UFC events can be re-watched on the streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK, discovery+
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