Heavyweight contender Shamil Gaziev reports a dramatic weight cut ahead of UFC Perth. Gaziev claims he weighed 140 kilograms at the start of his training camp. According to recent photos, he has now reduced his weight to 119.85 kg. The heavyweight limit is 120 kg, meaning Gaziev cut approximately 20 kg during his camp. This significant weight fluctuation highlights the physical demands fighters face when competing far from their walking weight.
Shamil Gaziev has revealed a striking physical transformation in the lead-up to UFC Perth, disclosing that he shed roughly 20 kilograms over the course of his training camp to reach competition weight.
The Bahrain-based heavyweight, who fights out of KHK MMA, began his camp weighing 140 kilograms. Recent photos shared ahead of the event show him at 119.85 kilograms, just inside the 120-kilogram heavyweight limit. The drop represents one of the more dramatic camp cuts seen at the division's upper weight class, where many fighters compete close to their natural frame.
Gaziev enters UFC Perth ranked eleventh in the heavyweight division with a professional record of 14-3-0. The 36-year-old stands six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach, giving him the physical tools typical of an elite heavyweight. He lands 2.62 significant strikes per minute at a 47 percent accuracy rate, and adds a modest takedown threat at 0.93 per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Gaziev's camp weight of 140 kilograms placed him roughly 20 kilograms above the heavyweight limit, underscoring how wide the gap between walking weight and fight weight can be even at the sport's heaviest open division.
- Arriving at 119.85 kilograms suggests he will compete close to the limit rather than rehydrating to a significant size advantage, which could factor into his durability and output across three rounds.
- At ranked eleventh, a strong performance in Perth could push Gaziev further into contention in a heavyweight division where rankings movement carries real title implications.
