The middleweight title is on the line this weekend as undefeated champion Khamzat Chimaev faces former titleholder Sean Strickland in a bad blood match-up years in the making. In the co-main, Joshua Van attempts to defend the title for the first time against Tatsuro Taira, and Sean Brady goes toe-to-toe with Joaquin Buckley in another mouth-watering bout. We take a look at my best bets on the UFC 328 card below.
UFC 328 Preview & Betting Tips
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland
Khamzat Chimaev has been an absolute wrecking ball and a man arguably more feared than any in the UFC. He faces Sean Strickland this weekend in a fight that is expected to be a one-sided beatdown. However, I am not sold that is how it will go down. Chimaev has shown that he can hang on the feet with dangerous strikers, but notably, it is his grappling that has seen many a fighter left without answers on the Octagon canvas. His game plan will be simple: take down Strickland and beat him up until he opens himself up to being choked. That is something I can definitely see happening, but I still have questions over how ‘Borz’ handles 25 minutes.
Strickland is incredibly underrated, largely due to his unlikable personality and brashness. The American has only really been outstruck by Alex Pereira in recent years and has underrated get-ups as well. While I have no doubts he gets taken down and dominated early, if Chimaev gasses himself out and cannot get the finish in the opening rounds, he could be in some serious trouble in the championship rounds as he has shown his cardio is not the greatest previously. So I will play this two ways, Chimaev to win in Round 1, and the fight to start Round 4, as I feel Strickland will either be demolished in a matter of minutes or we are in for a championship classic.
Also Backing: Fight to start Rd4 ($2 Palmerbet) – 3 stakes
Chimaev to win Rd1
$5.10 (2 Stakes)
Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira
Originally scheduled to take place last month at UFC 327, Joshua Van defends the flyweight title against Japanese contender Tatsuro Taira in the co-main. The 24-year-old capped off an incredible 2025 by winning the title from Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323 last December when the Brazilian champ suffered an arm injury in the opening exchanges.
Van is an exciting striker, but his champ status comes with a huge asterisk. This fight poses a true test, with another quality grappler in Taira. To win, Van must control the distance and keep Taira off the back foot. But I haven’t seen enough from him to suggest he can do that against a man who can hold his own on the feet, while also having a clear grappling advantage. So expect Taira not only to get a win but a finish on Sunday.
Tatsuro Taira to win by submission
$3.60 (3 Stakes)
Sean Brady vs. Joaqin Buckley
Sean Brady was viciously knocked out by hot prospect Michael Morales last time out, once again exposing his weaknesses against hard hitters that put him on the back foot. Before that, Brady looked like a world beater, submitting former champ Leon Edwards and securing strong wins over Gilbert Burns and Kelvin Gastelum. He faces Joaqin Buckley here, who comes in off a loss to Kamaru Usman.
Buckley has long been overrated in my eyes, full of highlight reel KOs, but lacking against fighters who control the centre and pose a serious takedown threat. That sums up Brady and I expect him to prove far too good. Buckley’s chance is getting Brady on the back foot early and landing something of substance. If he can't this will be one-way traffic.
Saver: Buckley by Rd1 KO – 0.5 stakes
Sean Brady to win
$1.58 (4 Stakes)
