UFC Champion Defends His Belt on May 9- Here is everything you need to know Before you Bet
Mark your calendars. One of the most expected UFC title matches of the year is scheduled on May 9, 2026, in the city of Newark, New Jersey, with Khamzat Chimaev as the UFC middleweight champion defending his title against a former champion, Sean Strickland. To Canadian fans, it is not another UFC pay-per-view, but this is personal. Strickland possesses one of the most dedicated fan bases north of the border, and his shot at winning the belt that he used to capture makes UFC 328 a must watch event in Vancouver to Halifax.
The Favorite: Khamzat Chimaev
Khamzat Borz Chimaev is one of the most formidable UFC champions in the recent past. The Swedish-Chechen champion is the middleweight champion and comes with the air of near invincibility in this fight. The grappling foundation of Chimaev is the best of the best, as he controls the grappling process, chokes the opponents against the wall, and finishes the fights with a combination of ground-and-pound and threats of subduction that few fighters in the world are able to resist.
His record speaks for itself. Chimaev has never been defeated in his UFC career and his way to the middleweight title was constructed with the one-sided victories. He is a betting favourite going into UFC 328 and he has been priced accordingly by the oddsmakers.
The Challenger: Sean Strickland and his Canadian Relationship
Sean Strickland is the fighter that Canada had adopted as its own. Unfiltered personality, his fierce pressure fighting style and the reputation of being a fighter who never misses a single war has made the former UFC middleweight champion in Canada amass a huge following in Canada. Strickland trains with Canadian fighters, he has appeared at several Canadian events and his no-nonsense style is very appealing to the Canadian fight fans who place high premium on toughness.
The way Strickland has made to the title is made of grit. His boxing is keen, his chin is granite and his power to walk through a punishment and continue to throw punches round after round is what makes him such a dangerous challenger. He has already won the middleweight belt of UFC, and he is well aware of what it is like to beat a champion on such a big platform.
What Strickland is a Threat
- Unrelenting forward pressure destabilizing the wrestling arranges of Chimaev.
- Elite boxing volume – Strickland lands more rounds than virtually any middleweight in the UFC.
- Granite chin and elite cardio – he gets stronger, the longer the fights.
- Championship experience – he has already had experience defeating a dominant champion.
Betting Odds: Which side of the market does the market like?
The odds set in the sportsbooks have made Chimaev a major favourite, but Strickland odds indicate true faith that it can be an upset:
| Market | Odds |
| Khamzat Chimaev to win | -280 |
| Sean Strickland to win | +230 |
| Fight goes to decision | +140 |
| Chimaev wins by finish | -120 |
| Strickland wins by decision | +310 |
The -280 mark on Chimaev represents a required assumption of about 74 percent – the market acknowledges his superiority but gives a chance of a Strickland recovery. To the Canadian bettors who would like to have some value, the +230 on Strickland is a noteworthy payoff in case the former champion is able to hold on to the fight and outmaneuver Chimaev through the five-round spectacle.
The Favourite and the Pick
Chimaev is the obvious favourite, and so he deserves to be. His physical endowments elite wrestling, explosive strength, and suffocating pressure make him the most wholesome fighter in the middleweight division. But Strickland has shown he can oppose even elite level opponents when the bout remains on the feet and the only weapon that has been able to haunt Chimaev is his boxing volume.
The intelligent bet to the Canadian fans might be how the victory will be won and not the winner. When you trust Strickland, then it is best to support him to win on decision at +310. In case you are riding with the champion, the best line on the board is -120, chimaev.
Canada will be watching the fight on May 9, UFC 328. Do not miss it.
Michael Harris
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