Arman Tsarukyan reveals Chimaev cut 21 kilograms during UFC 328 weight cut

Arman Tsarukyan has revealed that Khamzat Chimaev cut approximately 21 kilograms — roughly 46 pounds — ahead of his middleweight bout at UFC 328, scheduled for May 9, 2026, raising immediate questions about whether the Chechen-Swedish fighter is competing at the right weight class.

Tsarukyan, the number-one ranked lightweight contender, appears to have inside knowledge of Chimaev's preparation and made the disclosure publicly. The 29-year-old Russian, who fights out of American Top Team with a record of 23-3, is himself no stranger to elite-level competition, averaging 3.85 significant strikes per minute with a solid 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career.

Chimaev, 32, currently holds the number-one middleweight ranking and sits at number 10 in the pound-for-pound standings. Fighting out of Allstars Training Center and representing the United Arab Emirates, the six-foot-two "Borz" carries a 15-1 record and is one of the most statistically dominant fighters in the UFC, landing 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 60 percent accuracy while averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. A weight cut of 21 kilograms to make the 185-pound middleweight limit is an enormous ask for any athlete, however.

Why it matters

• A 21-kilogram cut is among the most extreme in modern MMA and raises serious long-term health concerns for Chimaev.
• Reactions to Tsarukyan's disclosure have been split between those who consider large cuts routine and those who believe Chimaev should move up to light heavyweight at 205 pounds.
• If accurate, the scale of the cut suggests Chimaev's natural walking weight sits comfortably within light heavyweight territory, which could have significant divisional implications at 205 pounds.
• The revelation arrives just one day before UFC 328, giving it added urgency as Chimaev prepares to compete.