Shamil Gaziev revealed in an interview with Jaidon Cable that he currently weighs 140 kilograms. He needs to lose 20 kilograms before the weigh-ins for UFC Perth. The heavyweight contender has several weeks to make the required weight cut. This represents a significant weight reduction in his preparation for the upcoming bout. The post prompted reactions from fans debating whether he has sufficient time to safely complete the cut.
Shamil Gaziev has disclosed that he is currently sitting at 140 kilograms as he begins his preparations for UFC Perth, meaning the heavyweight contender faces a 20-kilogram cut before he can step on the scales.
Gaziev made the admission in an interview with Jaidon Cable, and the revelation quickly drew reactions from fans questioning whether the timeline is sufficient to shed that amount of weight safely. He does have several weeks remaining before the event, which provides at least some runway for the reduction.
The 36-year-old from Bahrain trains out of KHK MMA and carries an impressive 14-3-0 professional record. Ranked 11th in the UFC heavyweight division, Gaziev stands six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. He lands 2.62 significant strikes per minute at a 47 percent accuracy rate, and while he is primarily a striker, he also averages 0.93 takedowns per 15 minutes, showing he is not without tools on the ground.
Why it matters
- A 20-kilogram cut is an unusually large reduction even by heavyweight standards, where the division limit sits at 265 pounds (approximately 120 kilograms).
- Gaziev's ranking at 11th means a strong performance in Perth could push him deeper into contender territory, so arriving in optimal physical condition is crucial.
- Fan debate around the safety and feasibility of the cut reflects broader concerns about fighter health in the weeks before a bout.
- How effectively Gaziev manages the weight will likely influence both his conditioning on fight night and the overall trajectory of his divisional standing.
