One is trying to hold on; one is trying to take it.
On a Saturday evening in Newark, two fighters will meet at the Prudential Center to contest one of sport's most primal questions: who is the better man under pressure. Khamzat Chimaev, undefeated and carrying the middleweight title, faces Sean Strickland, a seasoned American challenger who has earned his place through hard experience. The event is less a simple sports broadcast than a modern ritual — and the many paths to watching it reflect how deeply commerce and spectacle have become intertwined in the way we gather around such moments.
- An undefeated champion and a battle-tested challenger are set to collide in a title fight that carries the full weight of the middleweight division's future.
- The fragmented streaming landscape creates real friction for fans — no single obvious door, but a maze of subscriptions, trials, and tiered plans.
- Walmart+'s 30-day free trial offers the clearest route in, bundling Paramount+ access at no immediate cost for those willing to navigate the fine print.
- CBS provides a free broadcast lifeline for the prelims, while Fubo, DirecTV, and Hulu + Live TV each offer their own trade-offs in price, flexibility, and trial length.
- Even the fighters' walkout music — Chimaev's French hip-hop, Strickland's Civil War march — signals that for devoted fans, the ritual begins long before the first punch is thrown.
The UFC brings its championship pageant to Newark's Prudential Center this Saturday, May 9, where Khamzat Chimaev — a Russian-Emirati fighter with a flawless 15-0 record — puts his middleweight title on the line against American challenger Sean Strickland, who enters at 17-2. Early prelims open at 5 p.m. ET, with the main card, and the title fight itself, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
For viewers hoping to watch without an immediate financial commitment, Walmart+ offers the most generous entry point: a 30-day free trial that carries complimentary Paramount+ access, the event's primary streaming home. After the trial, Walmart+ runs $98 annually and continues to include Paramount+, which on its own starts at $8.99 per month with ads or $12.99 ad-free with Showtime bundled in.
Those who prefer traditional television can catch the prelims on CBS at 7 p.m. ET. Cable and streaming alternatives include DirecTV's Choice package at $84.99 monthly, Fubo's 200-plus channel offering starting at $48.99 for the first month, and Hulu + Live TV at $89.99 monthly after a three-day free trial — the latter expandable into a bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+.
Longtime fans will also be watching for the smaller rituals: Chimaev is known to enter to the hypnotic French hip-hop of La Caution's "Thé à la menthe," while Strickland favors the martial cadence of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." Neither has been officially confirmed for this bout, but such details are part of what transforms a fight card into something closer to ceremony.
The UFC is bringing its championship spectacle to Newark this Saturday, May 9, with a title fight that pits an undefeated champion against a seasoned challenger. Khamzat Chimaev, a Russian-Emirati fighter with a perfect 15-0 record, will defend his middleweight belt against Sean Strickland, an American with a 17-2 record, at the Prudential Center. The early prelims begin at 5 p.m. ET, with the main card—where Chimaev and Strickland will meet—starting at 9 p.m. ET.
For those wanting to watch without paying extra, there's a straightforward path: Walmart+ offers a 30-day free trial that includes complimentary access to Paramount+, the primary streaming home for the event. After the trial ends, Walmart+ costs $98 annually (roughly $8.17 per month), and that subscription automatically includes Paramount+ at no additional charge. Paramount+ itself has tiered pricing starting at $8.99 per month for the Essential Plan with ads, or $12.99 per month for ad-free viewing that now bundles Showtime.
The prelims will air on CBS at 7 p.m. ET for those who prefer traditional broadcast television. For cable subscribers, DirecTV's Choice package runs $84.99 monthly for the first two years, then $94.99 after that, and includes CBS along with unlimited DVR and three-device streaming. Fubo offers a more generous option: over 200 channels starting at $48.99 for the first month (then $73.99), with 1,000 hours of DVR storage and the ability to stream on up to ten devices simultaneously. Hulu + Live TV provides a three-day free trial before charging $89.99 monthly, and it can be bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+ for access to additional sports programming.
Neither fighter's walkout music has been officially confirmed for this event, though their preferences are known from past fights. Chimaev typically enters to "Thé à la menthe" (The Lazer Dance Version) by La Caution, while Strickland favors "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" by Megaraptor. These details matter to longtime fans who track the ritualistic elements of championship bouts.
The structure of the card reflects standard UFC protocol: early prelims at 5 p.m. ET, the full prelims broadcast on CBS at 7 p.m. ET, and the main card—featuring the title fight—beginning at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+. For viewers willing to commit to a subscription service, multiple free trial options exist: Walmart+ offers 30 days, Hulu + Live TV offers three days, and Fubo's trial period extends five days. The championship bout itself streams live on Paramount+ starting at 5 p.m. ET, though the main event won't take place until several hours later.
Citações Notáveis
Chimaev has walked out to 'Thé à la menthe' (The Lazer Dance Version) by La Caution, while Sean Strickland prefers to walk out to 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home' by Megaraptor.— UFC fight history
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why does a fighting championship matter enough to write about?
Because it's the moment when two careers collide in front of thousands of people, and millions more are watching. Chimaev is undefeated—that's a story. Strickland is the challenger who has to prove he belongs. The outcome changes both their lives.
But there's also a practical angle here—how to actually watch it.
Exactly. The UFC is on Paramount+, which most people don't have. But if you sign up for Walmart+, you get Paramount+ free for 30 days. That's the loophole. Most readers don't know that.
So this is really a service piece disguised as sports coverage.
It's both. You can't separate the fight from the access. If someone can't watch it, the fight doesn't exist for them. The streaming landscape is fragmented—CBS, Paramount+, DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu. Each has different pricing, different trial periods. We're mapping that.
What about the fighters themselves? Who are they?
Chimaev is the dominant force—15 wins, no losses. He's defending. Strickland is the challenger with a solid record but something to prove. That's the tension. One is trying to hold on; one is trying to take it.
And the walkout music—why include that?
Because it's part of the ritual. It's how fighters psyche themselves up. It's how fans recognize them. It's texture. It makes the event feel real, not just abstract.
What should someone do if they want to watch for free?
Sign up for Walmart+ right now. You get 30 days free, and Paramount+ comes with it. Watch the fight. Cancel before the trial ends if you want. That's the move.