Conor McGregor has thrown a curveball into the UFC middleweight division, seemingly staking a claim to the 185-pound belt. With UFC 328 fast approaching, featuring the highly anticipated main event clash between middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev and challenger Sean Strickland, McGregor took to X to post a cryptic message.
The card, scheduled for May 9th at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, sees Chimaev making his first defense of the middleweight title he secured last August. Chimaev’s path to the championship was marked by impressive victories over former titleholders Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker, maintaining his undefeated record at 15-0.
Sean Strickland, a former champion himself, enters the bout with a 30-7 record. He famously upset Israel Adesanya to claim the title in 2023, though he subsequently lost it to Dricus du Plessis in 2025. Strickland recently rebounded with a knockout win over Anthony Hernandez in February.
The pre-fight atmosphere has already been charged, with past security concerns between Strickland and Chimaev’s camps. Strickland had even humorously suggested carrying a firearm, to which Chimaev responded dismissively, calling him a “clown.”
Adding another layer to the narrative, Chimaev had recently expressed interest in a boxing match with McGregor, praising his striking abilities and the potential for a lucrative draw under the Zuffa Boxing banner.
In response to the growing buzz around UFC 328 and Chimaev’s callout, McGregor tweeted: “Very excited for the Newark, New Jersey @ufc card, with my 185lb @ufc title on the line! TUNE IN ON @UFConParamount.” This statement has been widely interpreted as either a direct response to Chimaev or a clear indication of McGregor’s ambitions within the middleweight division, a weight class he has never competed in professionally.
McGregor, a former two-division champion in the featherweight and lightweight classes, has historically focused on those divisions, with a notable welterweight victory over Donald Cerrone. His current comments suggest a potential shift in his career trajectory.
Tickets for UFC 328 went on sale in March, with the event’s broadcast set to air on Paramount, aligning with McGregor’s mention. As the event draws nearer, the focus remains on the Chimaev vs. Strickland title fight, while McGregor’s cryptic message has certainly added an intriguing element of speculation about his next move in the UFC.
