UFC 328 Results and WWE Backlash Breakdown
Newark, New Jersey, got a championship card for the ages. UFC 328 delivered one of the most shocking main event results in recent memory when Sean Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) to reclaim the UFC Middleweight Championship — ending the Chechen wrecking machine’s undefeated streak and etching Strickland’s name into the pantheon of great middleweights. Dave Simon, AJ D’Alesio, and Fred Garcia watched every second of UFC 328 live from the Ringside Report studio, and the reaction to the final bell was something to behold. The crew also broke down WWE Backlash 2026, a show that had some bright spots but ultimately played it far too safe. Here’s everything that went down.
🥊 Key Takeaways
- Sean Strickland is a two-time UFC Middleweight Champion, defeating Khamzat Chimaev by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) at UFC 328 in Newark, NJ — handing Chimaev his first professional loss.
- Strickland out-struck Chimaev 133-98 in significant strikes over five rounds, surviving an early R1 wrestling clinic to dominate the striking in rounds two through five.
- Joshua Van retained the flyweight title with a R5 TKO over Tatsuro Taira in a legitimate fight of the night candidate — both men left it all in the cage.
- A suspicious betting line shift before Brady vs. Buckley had the crew convinced something was wrong — Sean Brady then dominated all three rounds by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-27), proving the market wrong.
- WWE Backlash 2026 rated 5.5/10 by Dave Simon — IYO SKY vs. Asuka was the match of the night, Roman Reigns retained, and the John Cena Classic announcement left everyone cold.
The Fights
Green vs. Stephens — The King Executes His Prey
The main card opened with a catchweight (160 lb) bout that turned into a first-round clinic. King Green — who, as Dave was happy to point out, has legally changed his name to King — welcomed a returning Jeremy Stephens back to the Octagon in what shaped up as a veteran vs. veteran scrap. Worth noting: Stephens came in four pounds over the lightweight limit at the weigh-ins, earning a 30% purse fine and forcing the fight to catchweight. Stephens, 39 years old, had gone 1-2 in the PFL before the UFC brought him back, and you could see why the matchmakers felt comfortable with this pairing: two older fighters, both capable of violence, neither one anywhere near a title shot.
Green fought with his trademark bravado — hands hanging low at his knees, inviting Stephens to throw — and Stephens obliged, landing some early bombs that got the crew’s attention. But King Green is deceptive. Midway through the round he shot for a takedown, secured it, passed to mount, and when Stephens attempted a desperate Kimura sweep from half guard, Green snatched his back and locked up the rear naked choke. Tap. Round one, submission. King Green improves to three straight wins.
The moment after the stoppage was worth paying attention to. Stephens walked to his corner and removed his gloves — the universal signal in combat sports that a fighter is done. “He’s taking off his gloves,” AJ observed quietly. “Looks like he’s gonna retire after this fight.” Dave didn’t sugarcoat it: “How many fights do you want to lose in a row?” Stephens had lost six of his last seven. If this is the end, he had a long and entertaining career. But it wasn’t the kind of exit any fighter dreams of.
Brady vs. Buckley — The Fix That Wasn’t
Before a punch was thrown, the Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley fight was already the most talked-about bout on the card — and not for the right reasons. On Thursday during the Ringside Report preview, Buckley was listed as a +180 to +200 underdog. By fight night Saturday, Buckley was the favorite at -175, with Brady suddenly priced at +150. That’s not a line shift. That’s a market-wide alarm.
“I would be willing to bet the house right now on Joaquin Buckley winning,” Dave said before the first round. “If you think something’s up and Brady’s coming into this fight hurt, a sure thing at minus 175 is easy money.” The suspicion was injury, specifically something with Brady’s right hand. He’s a grappler by trade, but in the opening exchanges, he wasn’t throwing his right at all. It looked like a fighter protecting something.
Then the fight happened. Brady shot a takedown in the first minute, landed on top, mounted Buckley, and proceeded to smother him for the next twelve minutes. By the second round, the result was not in question. By the third, the crew had gone quiet — not because it was dull, but because there was nothing to say. Brady was that dominant. The scorecards read 30-25, 30-25, 30-27. Sean Brady wins by unanimous decision.
So what happened with the line? The UFC reportedly contacted Brady’s camp before the fight to inquire about his status. Brady confirmed no injury. The line movement remains unexplained. For a sport that needs fans to trust what they’re watching, these situations are corrosive — and the crew didn’t shy away from saying so. Dave had Buckley in his parlay. The market said, Buckley. Brady dominated. The market was wrong. But the questions linger.
Volkov vs. Waldo — Robbery on the Scorecards?
If the Brady-Buckley situation raised eyebrows about the market, the Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta decision raised questions about the judges. Dave had Waldo winning 29-28. AJ had Waldo winning — and had him in his parlay. Fred was leaning on Waldo. The scorecards came back 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 for Volkov, who wins by unanimous decision and moves on. AJ’s parlay — which had Waldo as one of four legs — was dead on arrival.
Volkov is a legitimate physical specimen — Dave compared him to an “old-timey Russian, an Ivan Drago type” — and he did enough to keep Waldo at range with leg kicks and jabs. But Waldo was the more effective striker when he closed the distance. His punches landed harder, opened a cut on Volkov’s face, and in the third round, Waldo was clearly winning the exchanges. A 30-27 from any judge was a surprise. “I’m shocked,” Dave said. “30-27 is very surprising.”
Fred offered a philosophical take: Volkov had a UFC fight stolen from him years ago on the scorecards. Maybe the MMA gods were paying the debt back tonight. That didn’t make it sit better, but it’s the kind of long-view thinking the sport demands when the judging goes sideways. Waldo can fight. He’ll be back. Whether Volkov earned this one is a matter of which judge you believe.
“I’m shocked. The damage on Volkov’s face was much more significant than on Waldo’s. 30-27 is very surprising.”
— Dave Simon, UFC 328 Watch-Along
A championship classic 👏@JoshuaVanBT & @TatsuroTaira left it all in the Octagon to earn FOTN honors at #UFC328!
— UFC (@ufc) May 10, 2026
[ B2YB @ToyoTires ] pic.twitter.com/zCOlTiAMkb
Van vs. Taira — A Champion Proves His Worth
The co-main event flyweight title fight between Joshua Van and challenger Tatsuro Taira was the most complete fight on the card — and, as Dave put it, probably the fight of the night even after the Strickland-Chimaev main event. Taira came in as the betting favorite, which told you something about how the market viewed the 24-year-old champion. He was the flyweight Goliath, and Van was the kid nobody was fully convinced had earned the belt he was wearing.
Round one belonged to Taira completely. He used wrestling to control Van, took him down almost at will, and spent the round working from top position. Dave called it directly: “This is lay and pray. This is not good MMA, this is not pleasing fighting to anybody.” Fair criticism of the tactic, but it was effective — Taira clearly won the round. The question was whether he could keep that pace.
He couldn’t. Van came roaring back in round two, dropped Taira late, and arguably earned a 10-8. Round three was a 52-6 significant strike advantage for the champion. Round four was competitive — Taira won it on control, bringing the fight to a 2-2 scoreline heading into the fifth. Then Van attacked. A front kick to the body staggered Taira badly, and the follow-up punches he couldn’t defend sent him dropping to one knee — the ref waved it off at 1:32 of the fifth. Joshua Van retains the UFC Flyweight Championship by R5 TKO.
Taira was furious at the stoppage. The crew disagreed with his assessment. “He was about to get finished — 99% sure,” AJ said. “He dropped to his knee, and the ref saved him. Let’s be honest.” Van celebrated a first title defense that demanded everything he had and proved he belongs. A rematch with Pantoja — the man Van took the belt from — looms as the obvious next fight in the flyweight division.
Respect.
— UFC (@ufc) May 10, 2026
[ @KChimaev | @SStricklandMMA | #UFC328 ] pic.twitter.com/84XO5NNNXv
Strickland vs. Chimaev — The Impossible Happens Again
Dave had Chimaev. Fred had Chimaev. The bookmakers had Chimaev at -450 come fight night, down from an opening line of -800, driven partly by a disastrous weigh-in where he looked drained and depleted. AJ had Strickland — and when the crew shared their parlays before the show, AJ’s faith in Strickland was the one bet that made everyone else uncomfortable. He’d been here before, backing Strickland in situations where the consensus said walk away. He was right then. He was right again.
Round one was everything Chimaev’s supporters feared and everything his backers hoped for, all at once. He shot a takedown in under twenty seconds — the first takedown of Strickland’s career at that speed — and spent the round on Strickland’s back, working body lock control, threatening with squeeze chokes, and generally making Strickland look like a man treading water. It could have been a 10-8. The crew scored it 10-9 Chimaev but acknowledged it was as dominant a UFC round as they’d seen this year.
Then round two happened. Strickland started moving, throwing his jab, using his footwork, and doing what every pre-fight analyst said was theoretically possible but practically unlikely: he kept Chimaev off him. The significant strike differential in round two was 18-5 for Strickland. He reversed a clinch, ended up on top, and for a moment — just a moment — Chimaev looked human. Dave scored it, Strickland. Fred scored it, Strickland. The fight was 1-1.
Rounds three and four were the toss-up rounds that every championship fight saves for the judges to ruin. There was a striking round that most in the studio gave to Strickland on volume and accuracy — 53 to 39 in significant strikes for the challenger — though Chimaev’s jab was finding a home and Strickland’s nose was bleeding. Four went to Chimaev on takedown attempts and ground control, though Strickland kept getting back to his feet. Going into five the crew had it 2-2, but acknowledged the scorecards could reasonably read 3-1 either direction.
Round five was Strickland’s. He threw 35 significant strikes to Chimaev’s 18. He defended every takedown attempt in the final two minutes despite Chimaev pressing with everything he had. He jabbed, he threw the right hand, he circled, he fought. When the horn sounded, Chimaev dropped into a crouch on the mat. Strickland raised his fists. The studio held its breath.
Then Bruce Buffer read the cards. 47-48 Chimaev. Pause. 48-47 Strickland. Pause. 48-47 Strickland. And the winner, by split decision — Sean Strickland. The place erupted. “Sean Strickland just did the impossible,” Dave said, “and wound up on the greatest middleweight of all time conversation by becoming a two-time middleweight champion.” The final numbers told the story: 133-98 in significant strikes for Strickland. Chimaev’s wrestling — 9 of 13 takedowns landed — gave him six minutes and four seconds of ground control. Strickland managed three minutes and one second. Half the time. Yet won the fight. Understanding how that happens is what makes MMA the most fascinating sport on earth. For a full breakdown of how split decisions work in MMA judging, the Ringside Report has a comprehensive guide.
⚡ Reality Check
“Chimaev’s camp didn’t help him going in. I don’t want my corner man spending so much time on Instagram on private jets with Nina drama. I want him focused on me. On fighting. On this fight. Comes at may not care — but I care. And when you look at how gassed Chimaev got after round two, you have to wonder what the preparation really looked like.” — Dave Simon
.@jacobfatu_wwe is unfazed 😳
— WWE (@WWE) May 10, 2026
Stream WWE Backlash LIVE RIGHT NOW on the @espn App with ESPN Unlimited!
▶️ https://t.co/kzS0cxoAzD pic.twitter.com/o1T0T4JGtW
WWE Backlash 2026 — A Show That Played It Safe
WWE Backlash 2026 received a 5.5 out of 10 from Dave Simon — a score that reflects a show with genuine highlights buried under a structural problem: nothing changed. No titles changed hands. No major angles shifted the landscape. The event after WrestleMania is supposed to set the table for the summer. Backlash set nothing. Everything is the same as it was before the show started, and that’s a problem when you’ve got fans who just watched six weeks of WrestleMania build paying premium prices to see the post-show.
The card opened with Bron Breakker defeating Seth Rollins, a match that had the right ingredients and produced a watchable bout with one significant flaw: Breakker botched a spot with Seth — the two fell on top of each other on what was supposed to be a power move — and it was the kind of ugly moment that reminds you this kid is still only five years into professional wrestling. Logan Paul and Austin Theory showed up to distract Seth, Seth chased them off and ate two spears on his return, and Bron gets the win. Dave’s larger critique of Breakker is worth noting: “He just doesn’t have that much material. He’s got two moves, and he spams them. Give him 10 more minutes in a ring, and it gets shaky.” The potential is real. The readiness is not quite there yet.
Trick Williams defeated Sami Zayn for the US Title in what the chat described as a solid undercard match. Dan Hausen and Mini Hausen defeated the Miz and Kit Wilson, a “mystery partner” reveal that disappointed the crew and the live crowd. Roman Reigns retained the World Heavyweight Title over Jacob Fatu in a match Dave called genuinely good — “Jacob Fatu is ready for the big time, he delivered in that match with Roman, he’s not falling behind, if anything, Roman has to catch up to him.” Fatu went full monster after the bell, hitting Samoan drops on referees and beating Roman down, setting up a future rematch that feels inevitable. Good television.
The match of the night was not close. IYO SKY defeated Asuka in what Fred called his favourite female wrestling performance in recent memory, and Dave agreed: “IYO might be the best in-ring wrestler the WWE has, male or female. She’s an incredible athlete.” Whether Asuka’s post-match moment signals retirement was left ambiguous. If it does, she’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer. A performer of her caliber deserves that recognition. The history of women’s wrestling has few performers at her level.
The show closed with a John Cena appearance, during which he announced a concept called the “John Cena Classic” — a fan-vote championship idea that Dave received with open skepticism. “I don’t know what he’s doing. I don’t care. It’s a gimmick, and I’m not interested in a gimmick.” Whether the concept gains traction will depend entirely on execution — something WWE has earned the benefit of the doubt on lately, even if Cena’s farewell tour has had inconsistent moments.
.@jacobfatu_wwe isn't holding back 😤 pic.twitter.com/Zu2SOReBS4
— WWE (@WWE) May 10, 2026
How Did Our Picks Hold Up?
This card divided the crew. Dave and AJ went opposite on every main card fight on Thursday’s preview show — a coincidence that made for a fascinating watch-along as each result came in. Here’s the final tally:
| Fight | Dave | AJ | Fred | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green vs. Stephens | ✅ Green | ✅ Green | ❌ Stephens | Green, R1 Sub |
| Brady vs. Buckley | ❌ Buckley | ✅ Brady | — | Brady, UD |
| Volkov vs. Waldo | ✅ Volkov | ❌ Waldo | — | Volkov, UD |
| Van vs. Taira | ✅ Van | ❌ Taira | — | Van, R5 TKO |
| Strickland vs. Chimaev | ❌ Chimaev | ✅ Strickland | ❌ Chimaev | Strickland, SD |
Dave’s parlay was Green + Chimaev + Volkov + Buckley. He went 2-2 on the card and lost the parlay on Buckley, the exact fight where the suspicious line movement had him most confident. AJ’s parlay was Sabatini (cashed in the prelims) + Green + Brady + Waldo + Strickland. He went 3 of 4 on the main card, but the Volkov-Waldo decision killed him. Had the Waldo pick been cashed, AJ was looking at a massive payout. The judges had other plans.
💡 Pro Tip — Reading UFC Betting Line Movements
When a UFC line moves more than 100 points in a short window — especially toward a heavy underdog — the market is telling you something. It could be an injury leaked from a camp, sharp money from informed bettors, or something more troubling. The Brady-Buckley shift from +180 to -175 in 48 hours is one of the more dramatic line moves in recent UFC history. Before placing action on a card, monitor lines from Thursday to Saturday morning. Unusual movement deserves investigation, not automatic action.
📖 Historical Context — Strickland Among Middleweight Champions
Where does Sean Strickland rank among UFC Middleweight Champions now? The conversation got lively in the studio. Dave’s top three before tonight: Anderson Silva (#1), Israel Adesanya (#2), and then a debate between Strickland, Whittaker, and Chimaev for the third spot. With a second title win over an undefeated champion, Strickland’s case for third all-time is legitimate. If he defends successfully, he starts knocking on Adesanya’s door.
The list of men who have beaten Khamzat Chimaev now has exactly one name on it: Sean Strickland. For more on how fighters earn their place in UFC history, Ringside Report has an in-depth breakdown.
Prelim Highlights
The prelim card produced several noteworthy results. Jim Miller, 42 years old, submitted Jared Gordon with a guillotine choke in the first round, which prompted an extended tribute from the crew. “Jim Miller, 42 years old, hitting guillotines in the UFC. Good for him.” AJ confirmed he’s been watching Miller’s guillotine technique for years. Grant Dawson finished Mateus Rebello by rear-naked choke in round three. Ateba Gautier knocked out Osman Diaz in round two, earning a performance bonus and putting himself on the radar as a rising middleweight prospect. Pat Sabatini — who was on AJ’s parlay — beat William Gomis by decision to cash the prelim leg. Roman Kopylov def. Marco Tulio by decision. The prelims did their job.
For more context on the current state of the UFC middleweight division after Chimaev’s run, Ringside Report has detailed coverage. And if you missed the previous pay-per-view breakdown, check the UFC 318 watch-along recap.
Who won the main event at UFC 328?
Sean Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) to become the new UFC Middleweight Champion. It was Chimaev’s first professional loss and Strickland’s second UFC middleweight title reign.
What were the UFC 328 results?
King Green def. Jeremy Stephens (R1 RNC submission, catchweight) | Sean Brady def. Joaquin Buckley (Unanimous Decision 30-25, 30-25, 30-27) | Alexander Volkov def. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (Unanimous Decision 30-27, 29-28, 29-28) | Joshua Van def. Tatsuro Taira (R5 TKO, flyweight title retained) | Sean Strickland def. Khamzat Chimaev (Split Decision 47-48, 48-47, 48-47, new middleweight champion)
Why did the Buckley-Brady betting line move so dramatically?
Joaquin Buckley shifted from a +180 underdog to a -175 favorite in the days before UFC 328, sparking widespread speculation about an injury in Sean Brady’s camp. Brady’s team and the UFC denied any injury, and Brady dominated all three rounds. The cause of the line shift was never officially explained.
Did Jeremy Stephens retire after UFC 328?
Stephens appeared to signal retirement by removing his gloves in the Octagon after his submission loss to King Green. He had also missed weight, coming in at 160 lbs — four pounds over the lightweight limit — forcing the bout to catchweight. No official retirement announcement had been made at time of broadcast, but the gesture was widely interpreted as a farewell.
How did the Ringside Report crew score Chimaev vs. Strickland?
The crew scored rounds 1 and 4 for Chimaev, and rounds 2 and 5 for Strickland, with round 3 as the key tossup. Most in the studio had the fight 2-2 heading into the fifth round. Strickland won that round on significant strikes 35-18, which proved decisive on two of the three scorecards.
What did the Ringside Report crew rate WWE Backlash 2026?
Dave Simon rated WWE Backlash 2026 a 5.5 out of 10. The match of the night was IYO SKY vs. Asuka. Roman Reigns retained the World Heavyweight Title over Jacob Fatu. No titles changed hands on the show. The crew was critical of the lack of surprises and the anticlimactic announcement of the John Cena Classic.
