UFC 328 ft Khamzat Chimaev vs Sean Strickland faces big shake-up as star fighter faces major injury and announces withdrawal

With less than a month remaining before UFC 328, the fight card has suffered a major setback. Former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz has been ruled out of his scheduled rematch due to an injury. The event is set to take place on May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and was expected to feature several high-profile bouts.

The card will still go ahead with two title fights at the top. Khamzat Chimaev is set to defend his middleweight title against Sean Strickland in the main event. Meanwhile, flyweight champion Joshua Van will face rising star Tatsuro Taira in the co-main event. However, the loss of Blachowicz vs Bogdan Guskov has left a gap in the lineup.

Jan Blachowicz injury forces late change at UFC 328

The withdrawal of Jan Blachowicz comes after he suffered a knee injury during training camp. The veteran fighter revealed that he tore his meniscus in the final round of sparring. According to his statement on his Instagram, the injury happened when he found himself in an awkward position and absorbed a kick directly to the knee. He admitted that the timing was extremely frustrating, as he was close to traveling for the fight.

Blachowicz shared that he had been fully focused on this rematch and had clear goals heading into the bout. He expressed deep disappointment about missing the fight. However, he has made it clear that he is determined to recover and return soon. The Polish fighter also hinted that he still plans to settle unfinished business once he is fit again.

The 43-year-old was preparing for a rematch with Bogdan Guskov. Notably, their previous bout ended in a majority draw at UFC 323 in December 2025. Before that, Blachowicz had faced a difficult run. He suffered consecutive losses to Carlos Ulberg and Alex Pereira. Despite those setbacks, he remains a respected name in the light heavyweight division. He has a professional record of 29 wins, 11 losses, and 2 draws.

At this point, the UFC has yet to announce if Bogdan Guskov will face a new opponent. His bout might also get pushed to a later date. This lack of clarity brings added suspense to UFC 328. Despite the change, the lineup remains competitive, with notable fights such as Alexander Volkov taking on Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Sean Brady facing Joaquin Buckley.




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