Shamil Gaziev confirmed he weighed 140 kilograms before beginning his training camp, responding to those who believe heavyweight fighters don't cut weight. Gaziev revealed he has been on a strict diet for the past six weeks in preparation for his bout. According to his social media post, he currently weighs 119 kilograms and expects no issues making weight at the official weigh-in. The heavyweight emphasized this information applies to his weight outside of fight preparation periods. His maximum weight of 140kg was before camp began, not during active training.
Shamil Gaziev has offered a candid look at the physical demands of competing in the heavyweight division, confirming via social media that he weighed 140 kilograms before his current training camp began and has since dropped to 119 kilograms over the course of six weeks of strict dieting.
The disclosure came as a direct response to the notion that heavyweight fighters do not cut weight. Gaziev was clear that the 140-kilogram figure represented his off-camp baseline, not a weight reached during active fight preparation. He added that he expects no problems making the heavyweight limit when he steps on the scale at the official weigh-in.
Gaziev, 36, fights out of Bahrain under the KHK MMA banner and holds a professional record of 14 wins and 3 losses in the UFC heavyweight division, where he is currently ranked eleventh. Standing six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach, he is a physically imposing presence even by the standards of the division's upper tier. He lands 2.62 significant strikes per minute at a 47 percent accuracy rate, and adds a modest ground threat with 0.93 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Gaziev's transparency highlights that even heavyweights, who fight at the division's open weight ceiling, undergo significant body composition changes between camps.
- The 21-kilogram drop over six weeks underscores the dietary discipline required at the sport's highest weight class.
- With a ranking of eleventh at heavyweight, Gaziev's ability to arrive at the weigh-in without issue keeps him on track for a bout that could have real divisional implications.
