Khamzat Chimaev struggled to make the 84kg weight limit for UFC 328, arriving just 20 minutes before the deadline and appearing in poor condition. There are suggestions he may not have actually made weight, with a commissioner allegedly recording the result before the scales balanced. The weigh-in issues raise concerns about Chimaev's condition heading into his fight with Sean Strickland. Dana White reportedly advised Dillon Danis not to attend the upcoming event due to risk of confrontation with Chimaev's team. The post also criticized the recent press conference, comparing it unfavorably to the classic McGregor-Nurmagomedov promotion, describing it as resembling a Call of Duty lobby rather than professional fight promotion.
Khamzat Chimaev's preparation for UFC 328 came under serious scrutiny on May 8 after the number-one middleweight contender reportedly arrived at the scales just 20 minutes before the 84-kilogram weight limit deadline, visibly unwell and struggling to make weight. Questions have since emerged about whether he actually made the cut, with reports alleging a commissioner recorded a passing result before the scales had fully settled.
Chimaev, 30 — correction, 32 years old and representing the United Arab Emirates out of Allstars Training Center — carries a 15-1 record into tomorrow's main event and enters as the top-ranked middleweight and number 10 on the pound-for-pound list. The six-foot-two Borz is one of the most physically dominant fighters in the division, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a 60 percent accuracy clip, numbers that point to a fighter who controls bouts on his own terms.
He faces middleweight champion Sean Strickland, a 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture who holds a 31-7 record and defends the title at six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach. Strickland is one of the busiest strikers in the division, outputting 6.04 significant strikes per minute. Any questions about Chimaev arriving physically compromised will hang over the champion's camp ahead of fight night.
Adding an off-color backdrop to the event, Dana White reportedly advised social media personality Dillon Danis to stay away from UFC 328 over concerns about a potential confrontation with Chimaev's team. The pre-fight promotional period also drew criticism, with observers suggesting the press conference lacked the intensity and professionalism of marquee events from the sport's recent past.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's reported condition raises legitimate questions about whether he will be at full capacity against a high-volume champion
- If the weight recording was irregular, it could invite scrutiny from the athletic commission overseeing the bout
- Strickland's first title defense now carries an added layer of uncertainty around his opponent's physical state going in
Saturday, May 9, 2026
