Khamzat Chimaev’s first UFC middleweight title defense surprisingly marked a changing of the guard, as Sean Strickland ruined his plans by becoming a two-time UFC middleweight champion at UFC 328 in Newark, N.J., on Saturday.

Strickland’s (31-7 MMA) split decision victory – 47-48, 48-47, 48-47- handed Chimaev (15-1 MMA) his first loss as both men embraced each other after a four-day buildup peppered with a ton of animosity.

“He’s a f***ing savage. That motherf***er would not go back,” Strickland said of Chimaev. “I’m hitting him with everything, and he just keeps coming forward. Crazy.”

After a dominant opening round from the incumbent which nearly saw Chimaev secure a rear-naked choke, a stuffed Chimaev takedown in the second led to Strickland being in side-control, landing strikes from the top position – a sequence rarely seen in Chimaev’s career to that point.

In Round 3, both men kept the fight standing as Strickland found a home for the jab. Chimaev ignored Prudential Center jeers of “F*** you, Khamzat” as he attempted to remain focused.

By Round 4, Chimaev used a much more tentative approach on the feet as Strickland’s nose was visibly bloody and compromised. A late takedown from Chimaev, a Russian who fights out of the United Arab Emirates, gave him his third in his last five attempts, albeit briefly, as the round ended.

With five minutes remaining, Chimaev kept Strickland against the fence in the clinch as Strickland eventually broke free back to the center of the octagon. Chimaev ended the fight with nine takedowns, but Strickland held a sizable 123-98 edge in significant strikes.

The co-main event saw UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van (17-2 MMA) of Myanmar successfully defend his title for the first time, securing a TKO win against Japan’s Tatsuro Taira 1:32 into the fifth and final round.

The fight encountered many twists and turns. As Taira (18-2 MMA) kept getting takedowns and the mount position, Van’s jab and a near rear-naked choke attempt in Round 3 were the perfect counter to a potential Fight of the Year candidate that many pundits had 2-2 entering the final round.

Van had a few choice words for Alexandre Pantoja, from whom he took the title in December when Pantoja dislocated his elbow after a bad fall, resulting in a TKO via an unexpected finish to their UFC 323 fight. Pantoja had a front-row seat to the action in Newark, N.J.

“We can run it back if you want,” Van said to Pantoja during his post-fight interview.

Taira had never been finished in his previous 19 fights, only losing a decision to Brandon Royval in October of 2024 at UFC Vegas 98.

In the featured heavyweight main card bout, second-ranked Alexander Volkov of Russia outlasted fourth-ranked Waldo Cortes-Acosta of Cuba, earning a unanimous decision win 30-27, 29-28, 29-28. Although it wasn’t a dynamic TKO from Volkov (40-11 MMA) that he’s primarily used to, volume striking made the difference.

Cortes-Acosta (17-3 MMA) had a three-fight winning streak snapped. The entire division remains at a standstill until Tom Aspinall returns to full health from his eye injury and the interim title fight between Alex Pereira and Cyril Gane at UFC Freedom 250. After that, what’s next for Volkov can be determined.

UFC welterweight Sean Brady overwhelmed Joaquin Buckley with ground strikes from the mount position across four takedowns, 12:09 of ground control time, and several submission attempts, winning a dominant unanimous decision – 30-25, 30-25, 30-27.

Brady (19-2 MMA) bounced back, having now won four of his last five, with his only loss coming to Michael Morales in that span. Buckley (21-8 MMA) has done the opposite, taking back-to-back losses. Buckley is still seeking his first win since December of 2024, landing only 21 strikes throughout the 15-minute contest against 245 from Brady.

King Green kicked off the UFC 328 main card emphatically with a first-round rear-naked choke (4:20) submission over fellow UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens at lightweight — even though Stephens came in four points overweight — in a one-sided affair. Green (35-17-1 MMA) picked up his 16th UFC win, extending his winning streak to three.

Meanwhile, Stephens (29-23 MMA) is in his second stint with the promotion, having competed on and off overall since 2007, and is still searching for his first UFC win since February of 2018.

–Field Level Media

Josh Jung and Justin Foscue each hit solo homers and the Texas Rangers ended the Chicago Cubs’ 10-game winning streak with a 6-0 victory on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

Jung went 3-for-4 with two runs, Alejandro Osuna had two hits and two RBIs, and Joc Pederson added two hits and an RBI for the Rangers. Starter Jack Leiter allowed three hits with a season-high five walks and six strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. Jalen Beeks (2-1) replaced him and threw the next 1 1/3 innings with no baserunners allowed.

The Cubs had won 20 of their last 23 games before being shut out for the fourth time this season. They went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base.

Chicago starter Edward Cabrera (3-1) gave up five runs on seven hits with one walk and six strikeouts over five innings.

Braves 7, Dodgers 2

Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson each delivered two-run singles in the second inning and visiting Atlanta spoiled the season debut of left-hander Blake Snell with a victory over Los Angeles.

Right-hander Spencer Strider (1-0) allowed just one hit over six innings with eight strikeouts and two walks in his second start of the season as the Braves improved to 5-3 on a nine-game trip. Michael Harris II tacked on an RBI double in the fifth and Drake Baldwin had a run-scoring single in the eighth.

Snell (0-1) allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits over three innings with five strikeouts and two walks as he returned from lingering shoulder fatigue. He was pitching for the first time since recording four outs in Game 7 of the World Series when Los Angeles defeated the Toronto Blue Jays. Andy Pages hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to end Atlanta’s shutout bid.

Reds 3, Astros 1

Chase Burns worked six strong innings, and Cincinnati took advantage of a critical fifth-inning fielding error to top visiting Houston and snap a season-worst eight-game skid.

The Reds set the table for a rubber match on Sunday for this three-game interleague series. Cincinnati did so by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth against Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (4-1), who suffered his first defeat in five starts this season.

Burns (4-1) retired the side in order only once, doing so in the top of the third, and he matched his season low with two strikeouts. But he induced Isaac Paredes to ground into an inning-ending double play in the first and stranded runners in the second, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

Blue Jays 14, Angels 1

Brandon Valenzuela hit a three-run homer to cap a seven-run fifth inning and Toronto defeated visiting Los Angeles.

Valenzuela had four hits and Ernie Clement recorded his second career five-hit game, including a solo homer as Toronto rapped out 20 hits to take their second straight in the three-game series.

Jesus Sanchez added a solo homer as the Blue Jays padded statistics against infielder Adam Frazier, who pitched a four-run eighth for the Angels, who have lost four of five to Toronto this season.

Royals 5, Tigers 1

Michael Wacha allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings, Bobby Witt Jr. sped his way to a two-run inside-the-park homer and Michael Massey broke things open with a conventional three-run shot, as host Kansas City beat scuffling Detroit.

Wacha (4-2), who turns 35 in July and boasts an ERA of 2.63, yielded only a single to Kerry Carpenter and a double from Spencer Torkelson to help the Royals take the first two of this three-game set. Kansas City, which secured its series win over Detroit since August 2024, is 12-5 since losing eight in a row.

Riley Greene had an RBI double in the eighth inning for the Tigers, who managed just four hits while matching a season high with their fifth consecutive loss. Detroit swept a three-game home set during the Royals’ extended skid last month but is in danger of that favor being returned this weekend.

Athletics 6, Orioles 2

Brent Rooker hit a three-run homer and the Athletics won their third game in a row by defeating host Baltimore.

Aaron Civale (4-1) had his third consecutive strong start, pitching five scoreless innings despite allowing six hits and three walks. He struck out six. Hogan Harris, Scott Barlow and Joel Kuhnel each pitched one shutout inning while Mark Leiter Jr. was charged with Baltimore’s two runs.

Pinch hitter Colton Cowser provided a two-run single for the Orioles, who lost their third in a row and eighth in their last 10. Baltimore starter Shane Baz (1-4) was chased after 4 2/3 innings. He was charged with five runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

Phillies 9, Rockies 3

Alec Bohm hit two home runs and drove in four runs in his return to the lineup as the host Philadelphia evened the weekend series with a win over Colorado.

Bohn, who had been homerless since March 26, led off the third and fourth inning with homers, tacking on a two-run double in the eighth. Kyle Schwarber broke a 1-1 tie in the third with a three-run homer, his third in as many nights.

Willi Castro had a home run and Kyle Karros hit a two-run double for the Rockies, who saw starter Kyle Freeland (1-4) allow seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits over five innings.

Marlins 8, Nationals 7

Jakob Marsee hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning and host Miami held on to beat Washington.

With the score tied 4-4, Kyle Stowers led off the eighth with a single against Mitchell Parker (2-1) and Connor Norby walked. After both runners advanced on a wild pitch, Marsee homered. Xavier Edwards also homered, Andrew Nardi (3-2) pitched a 1-2-3 inning and John King earned his first save.

Luis Garcia Jr. had three hits and two RBIs, James Wood homered and doubled and CJ Abrams added two RBIs for the Nationals, who had won three straight.

White Sox 6, Mariners 1

Miguel Vargas homered twice and Colson Montgomery also went deep to boost Chicago to a victory against visiting Seattle.

White Sox starter Anthony Kay (2-1) spaced three hits, all singles, and one run in five innings. Relievers Grant Taylor, Bryan Hudson and Tyler Schweitzer combined on four shutout innings to finish a combined four-hitter which snapped Chicago’s three-game losing streak.

Mariners starter Luis Castillo fell to 0-4 after scattering five hits for four runs in four innings. He allowed two homers for the second time in three outings. Seattle’s only run came on a Rob Refsnyder sacrifice fly.

Twins 2, Guardians 1 (11 innings)

Byron Buxton’s RBI double in the 11th inning gave Minnesota a win over host Cleveland in a game where each team managed only two hits.

Buxton had both of the Twins’ hits as he led off the game with his 13th homer, snapping the Twins’ three-game losing streak. The Guardians’ lone run came on a pair of fourth-inning singles, with Kyle Manzardo knocking in the run.

Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee allowed a run on one hit in six innings. Minnesota’s Joe Ryan gave up a run and two hits in six innings.

Brewers 4, Yankees 3 (10 innings)

William Contreras delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Milwaukee a comeback win over visiting New York.

The Yankees scored one in the top of the 10th to go in front 3-2. Fernando Cruz (3-1) relieved to start the bottom half. Automatic runner Garrett Mitchell advanced to third on a wild pitch and Luis Rengifo walked. After pinch hitter Gary Sanchez flied out, Jackson Chourio followed with an RBI infield single to tie it at 3-all.

Tim Hill relieved and Brice Turang bounced back to the mound, but Hill threw wildly to third to load the bases. Contreras then lofted a fly ball to right deep enough to score Rengifo and secure a series win for the Brewers. Aaron Ashby (7-0) pitched the final two innings for his major league-best seventh victory.

Pirates 13, Giants 3

Braxton Ashcraft threw seven innings of one-run ball, batterymate Joey Bart matched his career high with four hits and Pittsburgh used a 20-hit assault to roll past host San Francisco.

Nick Gonzales also collected four hits and Brandon Lowe had four RBIs for the Pirates, who won for the sixth time in their last eight games. Oneil Cruz also scored three times and had three hits, while Lowe and Spencer Horwitz scored twice apiece. Ashcraft (2-2) limited the Giants to six hits, striking out six without walking a batter.

Bryce Eldridge launched his first career home run to get San Francisco on the board in the fifth. Heliot Ramos had a pair of singles and a run for the Giants, who won the series opener 5-2 on Friday night. San Francisco has lost nine of its last 11 games.

Padres 4, Cardinals 2

Ty France and Manny Machado homered, while Fernando Tatis Jr. supplied a tiebreaking hit during a three-run fifth inning that lifted host San Diego past St. Louis.

Starter Randy Vasquez (4-1) scattered six hits over five innings while allowing just one run. The right-hander walked none and fanned six before the Padres’ high-leverage relievers took care of the rest. Mason Miller collected his 12th save in as many chances.

Right-hander Dustin May (3-4) pitched well for the Cardinals aside from the fifth. He permitted three hits and three runs (two earned) over six innings with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Diamondbacks 2, Mets 1

Ildemaro Vargas had a two-run single, Merrill Kelly delivered his most effective start of the season and Arizona beat New York to even the three-game series in Phoenix.

Kelly (2-3) gave up one run on three hits in seven innings in his fifth start since returning from an early-season back injury. Vargas’ bases-loaded single off Clay Holmes (4-3) in the third followed two-out singles by Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo and a walk to Adrian Del Castillo, giving Kelly the only support he would need.

The Mets (15-24) are one-half game ahead of the Los Angeles Angels (15-25) for the worst record in the majors. They had won four of five. New York had three hits, none after Tyrone Taylor’s two-out double in the fifth.

–Field Level Media

Arike Ogunbowale scored 22 points, Paige Bueckers and Odyssey Sims tallied 20 apiece and the Dallas Wings opened the new season with a 107-104 win over the Indiana Fever on Saturday in Indianapolis.

Jessica Shepard racked up 13 points, nine rebounds and nine assists for Dallas, which burned Indiana with 25 fastbreak points.

Sims, a crucial part of Indiana’s playoff run last season, led the Wings with 12 points after halftime and made one of two free throws in the dying seconds of regulation. Caitlin Clark missed a 31-footer and Indiana fouled Bueckers on the rebound, but Bueckers missed both foul shots with 1.4 seconds left, giving the Fever one last chance.

With Clark smothered by defenders on the inbound play, Kelsey Mitchell uncorked a 3 to tie but it bounced off the rim.

Mitchell powered the Fever’s comeback with 11 of her game-high 30 points coming in the fourth. Aliyah Boston had 23 points and Clark tallied 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds while shooting 2 of 9 from deep in her first WNBA game since July 15, 2025, due to a season-ending groin injury.

Neither team led by more than nine as two efficient offenses went tit for tat. The Wings shot 59.1% from the field and 12 for 23 from 3-point range, while the Fever made 51.9% overall but just 7 of 24 3-point attempts.

Clark left the bench in the waning minutes of the third period and returned wearing a black wrap around her lower back. She reentered the game and hit the final layup of the third to forge a tie at 80. That gave Clark 10 points for the third and put her past 1,000 points in her 54th career game.

Clark was not part of the Fever’s first lineup for the fourth quarter but emerged from the locker room soon after, presumably after further treatment.

Sims’ fastbreak layup made it 97-90 with 4:12 to play, but Mitchell clawed the Fever back with a 3-pointer, one free throw and a three-point play to get it to 99-97 Dallas. Bueckers responded with a 20-footer.

Boston missed the second half of a pair of free throws but stole the rebound from Bueckers and laid it in to cut it to 101-100. Then the Fever forced their second five-second violation of the quarter, but came up empty on offense.

Alanna Smith scored for Dallas and Sims hit a shot over Clark to make it 105-100 with 36.4 seconds left.

After the Fever pushed in front early in the second quarter on consecutive 3-pointers by Cunningham and Boston, No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd responded with the first points of her career on a corner 3, and Ogunbowale’s triple restored the tie game at 35.

But Fudd finished her WNBA debut with just those three points and one steal in 18 minutes.

Neither team led by more than five points until the final minute of the half, when Aziaha James knocked down two 3-pointers and Ogunbowale added one in between to build a 60-51 Dallas lead.

–Field Level Media