Dustin Poirier has alleged that Khamzat Chimaev did not legitimately make the 185-pound weight limit. Speaking on Ariel Helwani's podcast, Poirier stated that the official immediately announced 185 pounds as soon as Chimaev stepped on the scale, without allowing the balance beam time to settle. He noted that the scales used were balance beam scales, which require time to equilibrate before an accurate reading can be taken. Poirier's comments suggest the weigh-in may have been rushed or improperly conducted. The claim raises questions about the legitimacy of Chimaev's official weigh-in.
Dustin Poirier has alleged that Khamzat Chimaev's official weigh-in at 185 pounds was not conducted properly, raising doubts about whether the middleweight contender legitimately made the weight limit. Poirier made the claim on Ariel Helwani's podcast, and the allegation has not been officially confirmed or corroborated by athletic commission officials.
Poirier, 37, competes out of American Top Team and carries a professional record of 30-10-0. The southpaw from the United States stands five-foot-nine with a 72-inch reach and is one of the more technically active fighters in the sport, averaging 5.24 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy. He stated that the official called out 185 pounds the moment Chimaev stepped onto the scale, before the balance beam had time to settle and produce a reliable reading.
Chimaev, 32, fights out of Allstars Training Center and holds a record of 15-1-0. The orthodox striker stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and currently sits ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. He is one of the most dominant grapplers in the division, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 60 percent striking accuracy. Whether the scale reading accurately reflected his weight at the time of the official call is the crux of Poirier's allegation.
Why it matters
- Balance beam scales require the beam to stabilize before a reading is valid, making timing a legitimate procedural concern
- If the weigh-in was improperly conducted, questions arise about competitive fairness and commission oversight
- Chimaev's status as the top-ranked middleweight means any controversy surrounding his conduct carries significant divisional implications
- The claim remains unverified and disputed, with no official response from the relevant athletic commission reported at this time
