How to Watch UFC 328 in Canada? (Chimaev vs. Strickland)

QUICK ANSWER: If you want to watch UFC 328 (Chimaev vs. Strickland) the “official” Canadian way, Sportsnet+ will take CA$29.99/month from you and then ask for another CA$69.99 on top for the PPV. That’s nearly CA$100 for one card. Alternatively, Paramount+ USA covers every single UFC event, including the main card, for US$8.99/mo. (CA$12/mo.) with no PPV fees, and a VPN gets you in from Canada in minutes.

UFC 328 is one of the most anticipated cards of the year. Khamzat Chimaev undefeated, unrelenting, and frankly terrifying, defends his UFC Middleweight Championship against Sean Strickland, a man who has already shocked the world once and has absolutely nothing to lose going into Newark.

Two title fights. A stacked undercard. One of the most genuinely bad-blooded rivalries in recent MMA history.

And if you’re a Canadian fan, your broadcaster wants to charge you nearly $100 to watch it. That’s not a typo.

Here’s the good news: there’s a smarter, cheaper way to watch every single fight on this card legally, in HD, from your Canadian couch. I’ll walk you through exactly how.

Quick Summary: How to Watch UFC 328 in Canada

• UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland takes place Saturday, May 9, 2026 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
• Early Prelims: 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT
• Prelims: 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT
• Main Card: 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT
• In Canada, UFC 328 is on Sportsnet+ and TSN, but costs up to CA $100 between the subscription and PPV fee.
• In the US, UFC 328 is on Paramount+, with no PPV fee, including all fights with a subscription starting from US$8.99/mo or CA$12/mo.
• Best affordable option for Canadians: Watch on Paramount+ USA using a VPN. Full card, no PPV, fraction of the price.
• Best VPN: NordVPN: fast US servers, SmartPlay technology, 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Quick steps to watch UFC 328 Chimaev vs. Strickland in Canada on Paramount Plus:

1. Subscribe and download a reliable streaming VPN. I highly recommend NordVPN as it offers 3000+ blazing fast US servers, up to 75% off, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Now open the VPN app, sign in, and connect to the US server. I used NordVPN’s Atlanta, New York, and Miami servers to access Paramount+ USA from Canada.
3. Visit Paramount Plus, sign in or sign up for an account. Based on your IP address, Paramount+ automatically opens the US version of the streaming service.
4. Start streaming UFC 328 (Chimaev vs. Strickland) and all other fights on Paramount+ in Canada with zero PPV fee.

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UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland (Everything you need to know)

UFC 328 takes place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, one of UFC’s favorite venues, hosting its twelfth event at the arena.

The main event is the UFC Middleweight Championship: Khamzat Chimaev (15-0) puts his title on the line for the first time against former champion Sean Strickland (30-7).

Chimaev claimed the belt at UFC 319 with a historically dominant performance against Dricus du Plessis, 529 total strikes, and 12 takedowns, a performance that redefined what lopsided looks like at the top of a division.

Strickland, meanwhile, punched his way back to contention with a striking third-round stoppage of Anthony Hernandez in February, and heads into this fight with genuine bad blood, genuine motivation, and genuinely nothing to lose.

The co-main event is equally compelling: undefeated flyweight champion Joshua Van (16-2) makes his first title defense against Japan’s Tatsuro Taira (18-1), arguably the most technically fascinating fight on the card.

This is a stacked card from top to bottom. Both title fights could deliver finishes. The supporting bouts are loaded with meaningful matchups. UFC 328 is the kind of card that reminds you why you watch this sport.

How to Watch UFC 328 in Canada: The Honest Breakdown

Option 1: Sportsnet+ and TSN (The Expensive Canadian Way)

Yes, UFC 328 is officially available in Canada. Early prelims air on Sportsnet 360 or TSN, and the main card, including Chimaev vs. Strickland, streams on Sportsnet+.

Here’s what it’ll cost you:

• Sportsnet+ subscription: C$29.99/month
• UFC 328 PPV fee: C$69.99

Total: CA$100 to watch one event.

Let that sink in for a second. A hundred Canadian dollars. For one night of fights. That’s not a subscription to a service. That’s not a season pass. That’s one Saturday night in May.

And before you ask, no, the PPV fee is not waived if you’re already a Sportsnet+ subscriber. You pay the monthly fee on top of the PPV, not instead of it. Every. Single. Time.

For hardcore UFC fans who watch multiple events a month, the annual cost of following the sport through Canadian broadcasters is genuinely punishing.

The rest of the world has moved on from the PPV model. Canada hasn’t.

Option 2: Paramount+ USA with a VPN (The Budget-Friendly Way)

Here’s what the same event costs an American fan:

• Paramount+ Essential Plan: US$8.99/month or CA$12/month
• UFC 328 PPV fee: $0

That’s it. No PPV. No add-on. No hidden charge at checkout. The entire UFC 328 card, early prelims, prelims, main card, Chimaev vs. Strickland, is included with a standard Paramount+ subscription.

UFC signed a seven-year, $7 billion exclusive deal with Paramount and CBS.

Every numbered UFC event and every UFC Fight Night is now included with Paramount+ at no extra cost.

It is, unquestionably, the best value in combat sports streaming anywhere in the world right now.

The catch? Paramount+ in the US is geo-locked. You need a US IP address to access it.

The fix? A VPN. Connect to a US server, access Paramount+, watch the full card. Done.

The cost comparison:

	Canada (Sportsnet+)	USA (Paramount+)
Monthly subscription	C$29.99	starting at US$8.99/mo. or CA12/mo.
PPV fee	C$69.99	$0
Total for UFC 328	C$100	US$9 or CA$12

The math is not close. For the price of one PPV in Canada, you could subscribe to Paramount+ for nearly a year.

How to Watch UFC 328 in Canada on Paramount+

Step 1: Subscribe and Download a VPN

Being a digital nomad and having a passion for football and UFC, I keep finding ways to don’t miss any match or fight. For that, I keep testing VPNs to find the best solution for hassle free streaming while travelling.

To watch UFC 328 on Paramount+ USA from Canada, I highly recommend NordVPN, as it unblocks flawlessly without any buffering issues.

So, Head to NordVPN’s website and pick a plan. The 2-year plan offers the best value, and every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can watch UFC 328 completely risk-free.

Once you subscribe to a VPN, download its app on your preferred device.

Step 2: Connect to a US server.

Open NordVPN and connect to a United States server. New York, Atlanta, and Dallas all work reliably with Paramount+. NordVPN’s SmartPlay technology masks your DNS requests automatically; Paramount+ sees a legitimate US connection, not a VPN.

Step 3: Sign Up for Paramount+ USA

Go to paramountplus.com and create an account. Two plan options:

• Essential Plan: US$8.99/month — includes ads, full UFC access
• Premium Plan: US$13.99/month — ad-free, includes Showtime content

Both plans include the full UFC 328 card at no extra cost. To pay from Canada, you’ll need a US-compatible payment method:

• Virtual US prepaid card: Services like StatesCard.com issue virtual US Visa cards you can fund and use immediately.
• US Paramount+ gift card: Available from sites like MyGiftCardSupply, redeemable directly at checkout.
• US PayPal account: Works smoothly if you have one set up.

For a detailed breakdown of every payment option, our Paramount+ USA in Canada guide covers everything.

IMPORTANT: Unlike Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, etc., you need to subscribe for Paramount+ USA even if you already have a Canadian Paramount+ account. Paramount+ USA and Paramount+ Canada are not the same, and you won’t be able to watch UFC even with a VPN with your Canadian account.

Step 5: Stream UFC 328 Live

With NordVPN connected to a US server, open Paramount+ and search for UFC 328. The main card goes live at 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT on Saturday, May 9. Keep your VPN connected throughout — disconnecting mid-fight will interrupt your stream.

For a full step-by-step guide on accessing Paramount+ USA from Canada, check out our complete guide: How to Watch Paramount+ USA in Canada.

Troubleshooting: If Paramount+ Isn’t Working

• Switch to a different US server. Paramount+ periodically blocks known VPN IPs. Try New York, Atlanta, Miami or Dallas; NordVPN’s depth means you always have options.
• Clear your browser cookies and cache. Old location data can override your VPN’s US IP. Clear everything and reload Paramount+ fresh.
• Use your browser instead of the app. The Paramount+ mobile app uses secondary location signals that can conflict with your VPN. Streaming via browser on desktop or mobile is more reliable.
• Turn off advanced VPN features. Multi-hop, obfuscation, and split tunneling aren’t needed for streaming and can occasionally cause issues. Keep it simple: just connect to a US server and go.
• Disable device location settings. On mobile, turn off location permissions for the Paramount+ app to prevent GPS cross-referencing.
• Contact VPN support. Their 24/7 live chat team can point you directly to the best working servers for Paramount+. Tell them what you’re trying to access, and they’ll sort you out immediately.

UFC 328 Full Fight Card

Main Card (9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT)

• Khamzat Chimaev (c) vs. Sean Strickland — UFC Middleweight Championship
• Joshua Van (c) vs. Tatsuro Taira — UFC Flyweight Championship
• Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta — Heavyweight
• Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley — Welterweight
• King Green vs. Jeremy Stephens — Lightweight

Prelims (7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT)

• Jan Blachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov — Light Heavyweight
• Ateba Gautier vs. Ozzy Diaz — Middleweight
• Joel Alvarez vs. Yaroslav Amosov — Welterweight
• Grant Dawson vs. Mateusz Rębecki — Lightweight
• Pat Sabatini vs. William Gomis — Featherweight
• Roman Kopylov vs. Marco Tulio — Middleweight

Early Prelims (5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT)

• Jim Miller vs. Jared Gordon — Lightweight
• Baisangur Susurkaev vs. Djorden Santos — Middleweight
• Clayton Carpenter vs. Jose Ochoa — Flyweight

UFC 328 Start Times in Canada

Time Zone	Early Prelims	Prelims	Main Card
ET (Toronto, Ottawa)	5:00 PM	7:00 PM	9:00 PM
CT (Winnipeg)	4:00 PM	6:00 PM	8:00 PM
MT (Calgary, Edmonton)	3:00 PM	5:00 PM	7:00 PM
PT (Vancouver, Victoria)	2:00 PM	4:00 PM	6:00 PM

What is the Canadian UFC Tax?

“Canadian UFC Tax” is the term frustrated Canadian MMA fans have given to the CA$100 premium they’re forced to pay per event compared to US fans on Paramount+.

It’s not an actual government tax, it’s a collective expression of anger at a broadcasting model that treats Canadian fans as a captive audience.

The situation has gotten loud enough that Canadian UFC fans have launched a petition asking the UFC and Paramount+ to make UFC available in Canada without PPV fees. The frustration is real, it’s organized, and it’s growing.

Unfortunately, a petition is unlikely to change anything in the near future. The UFC’s Canadian broadcast deal with Sportsnet 360 and TSN runs until 2027. That means Canadian fans are locked into the PPV model for at least one or two more years, whether they like it or not.

Until that deal expires and the UFC landscape in Canada changes, the only realistic way to escape the Canadian UFC Tax is the same workaround thousands of Canadian fans already use: Paramount+ USA with a VPN

Final Thoughts

UFC 328 is a genuine blockbuster: two title fights, a stacked undercard, and one of the most compelling champion vs. challenger storylines the middleweight division has seen in years.

Watching it in Canada through the official broadcaster is a legitimate option. It’s also a nearly $100 ask for a single night’s entertainment, in a world where the same event is available on Paramount+ for under ten US dollars.

Get NordVPN set up before Saturday, grab a Paramount+ subscription, and watch the full card early prelims through the main event, without a PPV fee in sight.

Happy watching.