Khamzat Chimaev struggled to make the 84kg weight limit for UFC 328, arriving just 20 minutes before the deadline and appearing physically compromised. According to the post, the commissioner may have recorded the weight before the scale fully balanced, suggesting potential irregularity. Chimaev's difficult weight cut raises concerns about his condition heading into the Sean Strickland fight. Dana White reportedly advised Dillon Danis not to attend the event due to high risk of confrontation with Chimaev's team. The post also mentions that Sergey Kopylov, despite recent losses, is favored to defeat his opponent who has a Jon Jones tattoo.
Khamzat Chimaev cut it dangerously close at the UFC 328 weigh-ins on May 8, arriving just 20 minutes before the deadline and showing visible signs of physical strain while attempting to make the 185-pound middleweight limit. Questions have since emerged over the official recording of his weight, with reports suggesting the commissioner may have logged the number before the scale fully settled, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the result.
Chimaev, 32, enters UFC 328 ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound standings, carrying a 15-1 professional record. Fighting out of Allstars Training Center and representing the United Arab Emirates, the six-foot-two orthodox striker has built his reputation on relentless grappling, averaging 5.29 takedowns and 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His striking accuracy sits at an imposing 60 percent. A grueling weight cut, however, threatens to undermine those physical advantages heading into the biggest fight of his career.
Standing across from him will be Sean Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion. "Tarzan" is 31-7-0, fights out of Xtreme Couture, and brings a volume-heavy orthodox striking game to the cage, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy. The 35-year-old American stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and has proven himself a durable, relentless pressure fighter throughout his title reign.
On the periphery, Dana White reportedly warned Dillon Danis against attending the event, citing a significant risk of confrontation with Chimaev's team.
Why it matters
- A compromised Chimaev could shift the physical balance against one of the UFC's most active strikers in Strickland
- The potential weighing irregularity may invite scrutiny from the sanctioning body before the card gets underway
- Chimaev's number-one ranking and top-ten pound-for-pound status mean the middleweight title picture hinges heavily on his performance and condition
Saturday, May 9, 2026
