UFC 328 payouts: How much are Khamzat Chimaev, Sean Strickland & others getting paid? Reported & estimated salaries
(Courtesy : UFC)
This UFC 328 event emanates from Newark, New Jersey!
The UFC returns to the Prudential Center emphatically as UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland touches down in Newark, New Jersey.
Headlining one of the most eagerly anticipated cards of 2026 is a spicy middleweight championship collision between the undefeated reigning titleholder Khamzat “Borz” Chimaev and firebrand former champion Sean “Tarzan” Strickland.
The grudge match has been months in the making, with the pre-fight build-up involving a theatrical press conference that required a heavy security presence and saw both fighters separated after Chimaev launched a kick in Strickland’s direction.
Beyond the main event, UFC 328 features a stacked championship doubleheader. Flyweight titleholder Joshua Van makes the first defense of his belt against Japanese phenom Tatsuro Taira in the co-main event, a bout originally scheduled for UFC 327 in April before Van’s late withdrawal due to injury.
Heavyweight contenders Alexander Volkov and Waldo Cortes-Acosta round out the title-fight undercard, both positioning themselves for a future crack at the heavyweight throne.
A compelling welterweight clash between Sean Brady and Joaquin Buckley and a lightweight feature between King Green and Jeremy Stephens complete a stacked main card.
Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland’s estimated payout
Khamzat Chimaev has firmly established himself in the upper echelon of UFC earners, and his financial trajectory mirrors his mercurial rise to the top of the middleweight division.
The Chechen-born fighter entered UFC 319 in Chicago last August as the biggest bout of his career and delivered an emphatic statement, sweeping the scorecards against Dricus du Plessis with unanimous 50-44 scores.
His extraordinary performance with 12 takedowns, 529 strikes landed, 21:40 of control time, reportedly earned him around $2.6 million, including a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
That figure represents the apex of a steadily climbing earnings arc. Chimaev previously earned approximately $1.056 million for his neck crank finish of Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, and close to $1.6 million for his high-profile clash with Kamaru Usman at UFC 294.
Further back, his Fight of the Night war with Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 brought in $155,000 plus a bonus. Heading into his first title defense at UFC 328, the reigning middleweight champion is projected to command a purse in the region of $3 million, incorporating his base show/win fee, PPV revenue share, and any potential bonuses.
Sean Strickland has proven himself to be one of the UFC’s most reliable box-office draws at middleweight. His highest-profile payday came at UFC 293 in September 2023, when he shocked the MMA world by dethroning Israel Adesanya, a victory that reportedly earned him approximately $1.5 million.
After dropping the belt to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 for a reported $600,000, Strickland rebounded financially and competitively, earning roughly $1.22 million against Paulo Costa at UFC 302 and approximately $1.032 million in his rematch against du Plessis at UFC 312.
His most recent performance, a convincing knockout of Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston, again pushed him past the seven-figure mark. Heading into UFC 328, Strickland is projected to earn in the region of $1.5 million if he wins, with his base purse estimated at $750,000–$900,000.
UFC 328 main card other fighter payouts
The co-main event between flyweight champion Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira represents two fighters at very different financial stages of their careers.
Van, the breakout MMA star of 2025 who dethroned Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323, is expected to earn in the $700,000–$900,000 range, including his championship bonus and a modest PPV share.
Taira, climbing steadily through the rankings with two stoppage wins in a row, including a TKO over former champion Brandon Moreno, is expected to earn in the $200,000–$300,000 bracket.
In the heavyweight clash between No. 2 contender Alexander Volkov and No. 4 contender Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Volkov typically operates in the $200,000–$350,000 range. The relentlessly active Cortes-Acosta, who has gone 4-1 in his last five with multiple stoppages, is expected to be in the $120,000–$180,000 range.
Note: Jeremy Stephens missed weight by 4 lbs (came in at 160 lbs vs. the 156-lb limit) and forfeits 30% of his purse to King Green per UFC rules.
UFC 328 main card fighters’ payouts
| Fighter | Reported / Estimated Payout |
|---|---|
| Khamzat Chimaev | $3,000,000 |
| Sean Strickland | $750,000 – $1,500,000 |
| Joshua Van | $700,000 – $900,000 |
| Tatsuro Taira | $200,000 – $300,000 |
| Alexander Volkov | $200,000 – $350,000 |
| Waldo Cortes-Acosta | $120,000 – $180,000 |
| Sean Brady | $120,000 – $180,000 |
| Joaquin Buckley | $100,000 – $150,000 |
| King Green | $80,000 – $120,000 |
| Jeremy Stephens* | $60,000 – $80,000 (–30% weight miss penalty) |
All figures are estimated unless otherwise noted. Estimates based on prior reported UFC compensation data and analyst projections.
Where can fans tune in to catch UFC 328: Chimaev vs Strickland?
Fans in the United States and Australia can watch the event live on Paramount+. In India, the fights will stream on Sony LIV, while viewers in the UK and Europe can watch them via TNT Sports and HBO Max.
What time does the UFC 328 main event between Chimaev and Strickland start?
The main event cage walks for the upcoming show are expected at approximately 10:30 PM ET in the United States, 3:30 AM BST in the UK, and around 8:00 AM IST in India (Sunday, May 10).
What time do the UFC 328 prelims and main card start?
The early prelims begin at 5:00 PM ET / 10:00 PM BST / 2:30 AM IST, the prelims at 7:00 PM ET / 12:00 AM BST / 4:30 AM IST, and the main card at 9:00 PM ET / 2:00 AM BST / 6:30 AM IST. The main event cage walks are expected at approximately 10:30 PM ET / 3:30 AM BST / 8:00 AM IST.
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