Heavyweight fighter Shamil Gaziev revealed in an interview with Jaydon Cable that he currently weighs 140 kilograms. With UFC Perth approaching, Gaziev needs to cut 20 kilograms to make the heavyweight limit of 120kg (265 pounds). The significant weight cut has drawn mixed reactions from fans, with some expressing confidence he will make weight while others are concerned about the large amount he needs to lose. This represents a substantial weight management challenge ahead of his upcoming bout.
Shamil Gaziev has revealed he is currently sitting at 140 kilograms, meaning the heavyweight contender must shed 20 kilograms to come in under the UFC heavyweight limit of 120 kilograms (265 pounds) ahead of UFC Perth.
Gaziev disclosed the figure during an interview with Jaydon Cable, a disclosure that quickly drew divided reactions from fans online. Some expressed confidence in his ability to make the cut, while others raised concerns about the sheer volume of weight he needs to lose in the time remaining before the event.
The 36-year-old from Bahrain, who trains out of KHK MMA, carries an impressive professional record of 14-3 and is currently ranked eleventh in the UFC heavyweight division. Standing six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach, Gaziev is built for the upper end of the weight class. He lands 2.62 significant strikes per minute at a 47 percent accuracy rate, and while his ground game is not his primary weapon, he averages 0.93 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- A 20-kilogram weight cut is an unusually large ask in a division with no rehydration clause concerns, raising legitimate questions about Gaziev's conditioning on fight night
- At ranked eleventh in the heavyweight division, a strong performance in Perth could push him further into title contention
- His physical dimensions and striking output make him a dangerous opponent, but arriving drained could blunt those advantages considerably
