MMA Daily Roundup: UFC 328 Lands in Newark, Prates Blasts McGregor & More — March 5, 2026
- Dana Black
- Mar 5
- 5 min read
Overview
March 5, 2026 — the day before UFC 326 weigh-ins — is packed with breaking news. UFC 328 has been officially confirmed for the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on May 9, with two middleweight bouts already announced. Carlos Prates has claimed Conor McGregor turned down the opportunity to fight him for his comeback. Kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven has confirmed the UFC made him a genuine offer. Sean O'Malley is in Las Vegas this week to meet with the UFC and lock in his next fight. And Georgio Poullas has placed a condition on giving Arman Tsarukyan a grappling rematch. All that plus a full UFC 326 weigh-in day preview.
Contents
UFC fight week reaches its penultimate day with weigh-ins looming for Saturday's UFC 326 card in Las Vegas. But as always in MMA, the stories away from the scale are just as compelling. The UFC's future event calendar is taking shape, Conor McGregor's comeback is causing fresh controversy, a combat sports giant has confirmed UFC interest, and the bantamweight division's most colourful character is heading to Vegas. Here is everything you need to know today.
UFC 328 Confirmed for Newark, NJ
The UFC has confirmed it will return to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey for UFC 328 on May 9, 2026. Newark has become a reliable destination for the promotion, hosting yearly numbered events since 2023. The event will stream live and on demand on Paramount+. The main event headliner has yet to be announced, but the card is already beginning to take shape with two middleweight bouts confirmed.
Fight Card Early Announcements
Two middleweight bouts have been reported for UFC 328. Roman Kopylov takes on rising Brazilian Marco Tulio in a key 185-pound contest. Kopylov has dropped back-to-back decisions to Paulo Costa and Gregory Rodrigues, and is desperate to halt his slide with his trademark knockout power. The card will also feature Ateba Abega Gautier, the exciting 23-year-old Cameroonian prospect who is unbeaten through nine fights and 4-0 inside the Octagon, taking on Osman Diaz at middleweight in a bout that was previously slated for UFC 320.
Carlos Prates: McGregor Chickened Out
Welterweight contender Carlos Prates has made a bold claim, stating that Conor McGregor turned down the opportunity to fight him as his UFC comeback bout. Prates, one of the most dangerous finishers in the welterweight division, suggested McGregor was offered the fight and opted against it — a claim that has immediately ignited debate online. McGregor's camp has not officially responded. The Irishman confirmed earlier this week that he is in negotiations with the UFC targeting a summer 2026 return, with the June 14 White House card among the possibilities. The identity of his eventual opponent remains the most talked-about question in combat sports right now.
Rico Verhoeven Confirms UFC Offer
Kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven has publicly confirmed that the UFC made him a meaningful offer to join MMA's premier promotion. Verhoeven, widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight kickboxer of all time, has previously been linked with a crossover move into MMA but has so far remained in the striking-only world. His confirmation that the UFC made a genuine approach adds serious intrigue to the possibility of a crossover. It also comes in the same week the WBC issued its final ruling on Verhoeven vs. Oleksandr Usyk, a boxing matchup that has drawn its own share of scepticism from the combat sports community.
Sean O'Malley Meets UFC in Las Vegas
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley is in Las Vegas this week for a sit-down meeting with the UFC to finalise his next fight. O'Malley, who lost his bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili last year, has been out of action since and is ready to begin his road back to the title. The 31-year-old remains one of the most marketable fighters on the UFC roster and the promotion will be keen to get him back in the Octagon as soon as possible. No opponent has been named yet but an announcement is expected to follow the Las Vegas talks.
Poullas Sets Conditions for Tsarukyan Rematch
Georgio Poullas has hit back at Arman Tsarukyan following the cancellation of their grappling rematch, stating he will only give the UFC lightweight contender another shot under specific conditions. Poullas labelled Tsarukyan as "crying" in the aftermath of the brawl at RAF 06 and made clear he is firmly in control of whether a rematch happens. The feud between the two grapplers has become one of the most entertaining side-stories in MMA right now, and with Tsarukyan's UFC title shot hopes already under threat following his conduct at RAF 06, every development in this saga carries real consequences for his standing in the lightweight division.
UFC 326 Weigh-In Day Preview
Tomorrow is weigh-in day for UFC 326, the last step before Saturday night's blockbuster card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main event BMF title rematch between Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira has been the talk of fight week, with Oliveira dropping a teaser about what Alex Pereira's next fight might look like. Holloway has made clear that beyond the BMF belt, he has his eyes set on the undisputed lightweight championship. The full broadcast team featuring three former UFC champions is confirmed, and CBS will simulcast a two-hour window from 8PM ET. With the card just 48 hours away, anticipation is at fever pitch.
Key Fights to Watch
Beyond the main event, UFC 326 features a stacked supporting card. Gregory Rodrigues and Brunno Ferreira meet again at middleweight in a guaranteed war. Action veteran Drew Dober faces Michael Johnson in a lightweight scrap built for fireworks. Cody Garbrandt, one of the most naturally gifted strikers in bantamweight history, returns against Xiao Long in the featured prelim. Every fight on the card carries real stakes, making Saturday night a must-watch from start to finish.
FAQs
Where and when is UFC 328?
UFC 328 takes place on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The event will stream live and on demand exclusively on Paramount+ in the United States. The main event headliner has not yet been announced.
Did McGregor really turn down a fight with Carlos Prates?
That is the claim from Prates himself, who stated McGregor was offered the bout and declined. McGregor's camp has not confirmed or denied this. McGregor is known to be in UFC return negotiations targeting summer 2026, and his team will likely be seeking a higher-profile opponent than Prates given his lengthy absence from the sport.
Is Rico Verhoeven joining the UFC?
Nothing is confirmed. Verhoeven has confirmed the UFC made him an offer, but he has not announced any decision to sign with the promotion or transition to MMA. The kickboxing champion remains active in his primary sport. Any potential UFC move would represent one of the biggest crossover stories in combat sports in years.
When does UFC 326 weigh in and how can I watch?
UFC 326 official weigh-ins take place on Friday, March 6, 2026. The event itself is Saturday, March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Early prelims begin at 5PM ET, with CBS simulcasting from 8PM ET. The full event streams live and on demand on Paramount+.
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