Khamzat Chimaev successfully made weight for his upcoming fight, though the process appeared challenging. Chimaev was the last fighter to step on the scales and cut a total of 21 kilograms to reach the required limit. Video footage showed visible signs of the difficult weight cut on Chimaev's appearance. The Swedish-born fighter demonstrated his commitment by completing the substantial weight reduction. The successful weigh-in clears him to compete as scheduled.
Khamzat Chimaev cleared the scales ahead of his upcoming middleweight bout, but not without a significant toll — the Borz made the cut after shedding a reported 21 kilograms to reach the divisional limit, stepping on the scales last among all fighters on the card.
Video circulating from the weigh-in showed visible signs of the grueling reduction on Chimaev's physical appearance, underscoring just how demanding the process was for the 32-year-old. Despite the difficulty, he completed the weight cut and is officially cleared to compete as scheduled.
Chimaev, who fights out of the UAE and trains at Allstars Training Center in Sweden, enters the bout ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth on the pound-for-pound list with a professional record of 15 wins and 1 loss. At six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he has built his reputation as one of the sport's most physically dominant fighters, landing 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent. He also poses a constant threat on the mat, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same window.
Why it matters
- A 21-kilogram cut raises legitimate questions about Chimaev's long-term viability at middleweight and whether a move up in weight could be on the horizon.
- As the number-one ranked middleweight, his performance in this fight carries direct implications for the division's title picture.
- Chimaev's blend of elite striking volume and high-level grappling makes him a dangerous opponent regardless of the weight-cut strain, but fatigue from an extreme cut can affect output come fight night.
