Khamzat Chimaev was seen leaving the weigh-in room looking visibly exhausted after his weight cut. A photo by Arman Tsarukyan captured Chimaev's drained appearance following the weigh-in process. The post expressed well-wishes for Chimaev to fully recover after the difficult weight cut. No additional details about his actual weight or the specifics of his condition were mentioned in the brief post.
Khamzat Chimaev was photographed looking visibly drained after completing his weigh-in for UFC 328, scheduled for May 9, 2026, raising questions about the toll of his weight cut ahead of fight night.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," enters the event as the number-one ranked middleweight in the UFC and sits at number ten in the pound-for-pound standings. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center carries a 15-1-0 professional record. He is one of the division's most physically imposing forces, landing 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 60 percent striking accuracy while also averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — a combination that makes weight management all the more critical given the physical demands his style places on his body.
The image was posted by lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan, the number-one ranked fighter at 135 pounds who holds a 23-3-0 record. The 29-year-old Russian, training out of American Top Team, accompanied the photo with well-wishes for Chimaev to recover fully before the bout. Tsarukyan himself is no stranger to the rigors of fight week, averaging 3.85 significant strikes per minute across his career at lightweight.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the top-ranked middleweight, meaning his physical condition heading into UFC 328 carries significant divisional implications
- Weight cut difficulties can affect performance and recovery time, particularly for fighters with high-output, wrestling-heavy styles like Chimaev's
- No official statement on his weight or health status has been issued, leaving his condition on fight night uncertain
Saturday, May 9, 2026
