Khamzat Chimaev struggled with his weight cut for UFC 328, arriving just 20 minutes before the deadline and weighing in at 84 kilograms. Reports indicate Chimaev looked unwell during the weigh-in process. There are questions about whether he actually made weight properly, as the commissioner reportedly recorded the result before the scale fully balanced. The difficult weight cut raises concerns about Chimaev's condition heading into his middleweight championship fight against Sean Strickland. Dana White has advised Dillon Danis not to attend the upcoming event due to potential retaliation from Chimaev's team.
Khamzat Chimaev made it to the scale with just 20 minutes to spare ahead of the UFC 328 weigh-in deadline, registering 84 kilograms for his middleweight championship fight against Sean Strickland — though the circumstances surrounding the result have drawn immediate scrutiny.
Reports indicate Chimaev appeared visibly unwell during the process, and questions have emerged over whether the weigh-in was conducted properly after the commissioner reportedly logged the result before the scale had fully settled. The situation has cast a shadow over his condition heading into Saturday's main event.
Chimaev, 32, represents the UAE and trains out of Allstars Training Center. Ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, he carries a 15-1 record into what is the biggest fight of his career. His numbers reflect a relentless, pressure-based style — 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and a striking accuracy of 60 percent make him one of the most efficient fighters in the division.
Standing across from him is reigning middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who defends his title for what has become a pressure-tested reign. "Tarzan" is 35 years old, fights out of Xtreme Couture, and holds a 31-7 record. The American is among the division's most active strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute, and carries a 76-inch reach into the cage at six-foot-one.
Away from the main event, UFC president Dana White has reportedly warned Dillon Danis against attending UFC 328, citing concerns over potential retaliation from members of Chimaev's camp.
Why it matters
- A disputed or improper weigh-in result could have regulatory consequences before the fight takes place
- Chimaev's visible condition raises legitimate questions about his physical readiness for a five-round title fight
- A win or loss for either man carries significant pound-for-pound implications, with Chimaev currently sitting tenth on that list
- The Danis warning adds an additional layer of tension around an already high-stakes card
Saturday, May 9, 2026
