NEWARK, N.J. - (April 9, 2026) — From UFC World Championship bouts to international showcases to the opportunity to represent Team USA and hometown fight nights, Prudential Center is set to deliver its most dynamic combat sports period in venue history. The spring lineup features a mix of global promotions, emerging contenders, and the opportunity for athletes to write their stories in Newark, New Jersey.
This upcoming schedule further positions Prudential Center as a marquee destination for combat sports.
There will be nearly 150 athletes across five different event promotions throughout a two-month timeframe. This programming combination creates the most robust collection of world class competitors in the venue’s combat sports history.
Here is a snapshot of the upcoming events:
Brick City Boxing – April 10, 2026
Brick City Boxing returns to Prudential Center for the second edition of Brick City Fight Night Series, featuring a mix of professional and amateur bouts.
Headlining the event is a 10-round middleweight main event, WBO #15-ranked Hebert Conceicao Sousa (10-0, 5 KOs) of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, will face his toughest career test to date against dangerous knockout puncher Johan “The Chelo Manotas” Gonzalez (36-5, 34 KOs) of Las Vegas via Valencia, Venezuela.
And in the 10-round super welterweight co-feature, fan favorites Francisco “Bebu” Daniel Veron (16-1-1, 10 KOs) of Jose Leon Suarez of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Raul Garcia (15-2-1 12 KOs) of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, will trade power punches in a guaranteed welterweight slugfest.
The card will showcase rising contenders and local standouts, including Newark fighters Emmanuel “Salserito” Rodriguez, Keith Colon, and Yoell “Boy Boy” Cooper, who will be making his professional debut.
The event will also include six special Police vs. Firefighters “First Responders” amateur showcase bouts as part of the New Jersey edition of the Battle of the Badges, honoring local Police, Fire, EMS, and Military teams.
UFC 328 – May 9, 2026
Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Newark on Saturday, May 9. UFC 328 marks the fourth consecutive year the promotion has brought an event to Prudential Center and the twelfth UFC event at the venue dating back to 2007.
The card will be headlined by a UFC World Championship bout as middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev defends his title against Sean Strickland. The matchup marks Chimaev’s first title defense since capturing the championship from Dricus du Plessis, while Strickland returns to the venue where he previously delivered a standout performance.
In the co-main event, the flyweight title fight between champion Joshua Van and challenger Tatsuro Taira will now take place at UFC 328.
Heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov will face rising star Waldo Cortes-Acosta, with both fighters aiming to make a strong statement in the division’s title picture.
The full fight card can be found HERE.
World Elite Sumo – May 16, 2026
World Elite Sumo makes its Prudential Center debut on Saturday, May 16, bringing the centuries-old sport of sumo wrestling to Newark in a fast-paced, modern combat format.
Founded by former top-division sumo wrestler Abdelrahman “Sandstorm” Shalan, WES blends traditional elements of the sport with a high-energy fight-night experience featuring dramatic entrances, live taiko drumming, and an international roster of athletes from Japan, Egypt, Brazil, Mongolia, Russia, and the United States.
Crossroads In Brick City – June 6, 2026
RDR Promotions will stage its first show at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. as Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga headlines their “Crossroads in Brick City” event on Saturday, June 6.
The heavy-handed Prenga (20-1, 20 KOs), a native of Orosh, Albania who now lives in New Jersey, will face an opponent to be named in an eight-round fight.
In the co-featured bout, Newark’s own Michael “Slick” Anderson (25-4-1, 19 KOs) will meet Nimal Farmer (6-1-2, 4 KOs) of Lindenwold, N.J. in a ten-round welterweight fight.
The card will also feature a number of competitively-matched fights between prospects from across the northeast, including Rashan Adams (11-1, 6 KOs) of Philadelphia, PA, Naheem Parker (6-4, 2 KOs) of Camden, NJ, Vladimir Dalton (2-0) of Elizabeth, NJ, Ibrahima Fofana (2-0, 2 KOs) of The Bronx, NY, Juan Rivera V (9-0, 5 KOs) of Philadelphia, PA, Demarius Driver (12-1, 7 KOs) of Nashville, Tennessee, Famous Wilson (4-0, 2 KOs) of Brentwood, NY, Bernard Gardner (1-1, 1 KO) of Jersey City, NJ, John Gjini (16-0, 15 KOs) of Greenwich, CT, Alexander Collado (0-1) of North Bergen, New Jersey, and Newark’s own Muadh Abdus-Salaam (3-0, 1 KO), Zahir Abdus-Salaam (2-0, 1 KO), and Yoell Cooper, with more bouts that will be announced at a later date.
Final X – June 19, 2026
USA Wrestling’s flagship Senior-level event, Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, returns to Prudential Center on Friday, June 19 alongside the Beat the Streets New York Annual Benefit.
Final X will determine the 2026 U.S. Senior World Team in men’s and women’s freestyle wrestling, with the top two U.S. athletes in each of 20 weight classes competing in best-of-three series to decide who will represent Team USA at the 2026 Senior World Championships in Manama, Bahrain.
From elite world championship bouts to international showcases and hometown talent, Prudential Center continues to elevate its profile as a leading stage for combat sports. This spring’s lineup highlights the venue’s ability to host a wide spectrum of events which appeal to both dedicated fans and new audiences alike.
As combat sports momentum continues to build, Prudential Center remains at the forefront of sports properties growth, delivering high-impact events that bring global attention to Newark.
About Prudential Center
Prudential Center is the world-class sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Opened in October 2007, the state-of-the-art arena is the home of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball program, Professional Women’s Hockey League’s (PWHL) New York Sirens and more than 210 concerts, family shows and special events each year. Ranked in the Top 10 worldwide by Pollstar, Billboard and various other industry publications, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the premier venues in the United States, and hosts over 2 million guests annually. For more information about Prudential Center, visit prucenter.com and follow the arena on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok @PruCenter. Prudential Center is a HBSE property.
For Press Inquiries:
Bill Hanousek | Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment | Director, Entertainment Communications| bhanousek@hbse.com
Sara Hudson | Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment | Coordinator, Entertainment Communications| sarahudson@hbse.com
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