Shamil Gaziev revealed in an interview with Jaydon Cable that he currently weighs 140 kilograms. The heavyweight fighter needs to cut 20 kilograms before the weigh-in for UFC Perth. Gaziev is competing at heavyweight, where the limit is 120 kilograms (265 pounds). The post asks readers whether they think the weight cut is manageable or extremely difficult. This represents a significant weight reduction in what is presumably a limited timeframe before the event.
Shamil Gaziev has disclosed that he currently tips the scales at 140 kilograms, meaning the heavyweight contender faces a 20-kilogram cut ahead of his bout at UFC Perth, where the heavyweight limit sits at 120 kilograms (265 pounds). The Bahrain-based fighter shared the figure in an interview with Jaydon Cable.
Gaziev, 36, fights out of KHK MMA and holds a professional record of 14-3-0. Ranked 11th in the UFC heavyweight division, the six-foot-four Orthodox striker brings a 78-inch reach into competition. He lands 2.62 significant strikes per minute at a 47 percent striking accuracy rate, and adds a modest ground threat with 0.93 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- A 20-kilogram reduction is an unusually large cut even by heavyweight standards, where many fighters walk into weigh-ins close to the 120-kilogram limit.
- Gaziev sits 11th in the divisional rankings, meaning a strong performance at UFC Perth could push him closer to title contention in one of the UFC's most competitive weight classes.
- How the weight management affects his conditioning on fight night is a legitimate concern given the scale of the reduction required.
The heavyweight limit of 120 kilograms already accommodates larger athletes, but a 20-kilogram deficit from his current walking weight puts Gaziev's preparation under scrutiny ahead of the Perth card.
