Shamil Gaziev has revealed he weighed 140 kilograms before beginning his training camp for UFC Perth. The heavyweight has since dropped to 119.85 kg according to his social media posts, addressing concerns about his weight cut. Gaziev stated he has been dieting for the past six weeks and expects no issues at the weigh-in. He emphasized that heavyweight fighters do indeed cut weight significantly, contrary to popular belief. The post clarifies that the 140kg figure represents his off-season weight rather than his fighting weight.
Shamil Gaziev has taken to social media to address questions about his weight ahead of UFC Perth, revealing he tipped the scales at 140 kilograms during the off-season before launching into his training camp.
The 36-year-old Bahrain-based heavyweight, who competes out of KHK MMA, confirmed he has since shed a significant amount of that mass and now sits at 119.85 kilograms following six weeks of dieting. Gaziev pushed back against the notion that heavyweights do not cut weight, making clear that competitors in the division regularly manage substantial fluctuations between camps. He expressed confidence that the weigh-in will present no problems.
Gaziev carries a professional record of 14 wins and 3 losses and is currently ranked eleventh in the UFC heavyweight division. Standing six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach, he is a physically imposing presence in the weight class. Inside the octagon he lands 2.62 significant strikes per minute at a 47 percent accuracy rate, and he supplements his striking with 0.93 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The disclosure clarifies that Gaziev's 140-kilogram figure was an off-season baseline, not a fight-week concern, easing speculation about his preparation.
- Successfully making weight would keep his push toward the top ten of the heavyweight rankings on track.
- His combination of size, striking output, and takedown activity makes weight and conditioning a genuine factor in how effectively he can execute his style over three or five rounds.
