Shamil Gaziev has undergone a dramatic weight cut ahead of UFC Perth, claiming he weighed 140 kilograms before starting his training camp. According to a recent photo, his weight has now dropped to 119.85 kilograms. Gaziev competes in the heavyweight division with a limit of 120 kilograms. The significant weight reduction is particularly notable given the event will take place in Australia, which typically allows fighters half the usual recovery time due to time zone differences.
Shamil Gaziev has pulled off a dramatic body transformation ahead of UFC Perth, shedding more than 20 kilograms to bring himself within the heavyweight limit ahead of fight week. A recent photograph showed the Russian-born fighter registering 119.85 kilograms on the scale, just under the 120-kilogram divisional ceiling, after he reported starting his training camp at 140 kilograms.
Gaziev, who competes out of KHK MMA and represents Bahrain, holds a professional record of 14 wins and 3 losses in the heavyweight division, where he is currently ranked eleventh in the UFC. The six-foot-four, 36-year-old carries a 78-inch reach and brings consistent pressure in the striking department, averaging 2.62 significant strikes landed per minute at a 47 percent accuracy rate. He also adds a credible grappling threat, averaging nearly one takedown per 15 minutes of action.
Why it matters
- Gaziev needed to drop over 20 kilograms, an unusually steep camp-period cut even at heavyweight, where weight management demands are generally less severe than in lighter divisions.
- UFC Perth events present an added physiological challenge for fighters, as the Australian time zone typically compresses the recovery window between weigh-ins and fight night compared to North American events.
- At rank 11 in a division where top-15 positioning carries real title-contention value, Gaziev's ability to arrive in peak physical condition will be closely watched by those tracking the heavyweight landscape.
