UFC 328 delivered an unforgettable night of action at the Prudential Center in Newark, but the aftermath has left several top fighters—including two newly crowned champions—facing significant medical suspensions. The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board (NJSACB) has issued 17 medical suspensions following the May 9 event, with Sean Strickland, Joshua Van, and Tatsuro Taira among those requiring additional clearance before they can step back into the Octagon.
The main event saw Sean Strickland capture the UFC Middleweight title with a hard-fought split decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev. However, the win came at a cost: Strickland battled through a gnarly shoulder injury and now faces an indefinite suspension pending clearance from an orthopedist for his left hand. He's also sidelined for 45 days with 30 days of no contact. Chimaev, meanwhile, received a 45-day suspension with 30 days no contact.
In the co-main event, flyweight champion Joshua Van successfully defended his title for the first time, knocking out Tatsuro Taira in the fifth round. But Van's victory celebration will have to wait—he's under an indefinite suspension pending orthopedist clearance for his left hand, plus 30 days with 21 days no contact. Taira's suspension is even more serious: indefinite pending a physician-cleared CT head scan, along with 90 days and 60 days no contact due to the TKO loss.
The full list of UFC 328 medical suspensions includes several other notable names. Alexander Volkov, Sean Brady, King Green, Ateba Gautier, Yaroslav Amosov, and Joel Alvarez all escaped without suspensions. Others weren't as fortunate: Jeremy Stephens is out indefinitely for a groin issue, Ozzy Diaz needs an ophthalmologist's clearance for his right eye after a knockout, and Grant Dawson requires orthopedist clearance for his right tibia (plus an X-ray). Mateusz Rebecki also faces an indefinite suspension for a left lateral orbit laceration.
For fighters and fans alike, these suspensions serve as a reminder of the brutal toll that high-stakes competition takes on the body. As the champions recover, the division waits to see when—and if—they'll be cleared to defend their titles again.