Dana White explains Chimaev's weight struggles and says he fully realized potential

UFC President Dana White spoke publicly on Saturday about Khamzat Chimaev's well-documented weight management issues, offering his explanation for why the fighter who once competed comfortably at welterweight now finds it difficult to make the middleweight limit.

White's comments came in the wake of UFC 328 and centered on a straightforward theory: when a fighter achieves success, the lifestyle that follows makes disciplined weight control harder to maintain. It is a pattern White suggested is common among rising stars who reach the top of the sport.

Despite those physical challenges, White was emphatic that Chimaev has fulfilled everything the promotion saw in him from the beginning. The UFC president framed a fighter going on to become a UFC champion as the clearest possible measure of potential fully realized.

Chimaev, now 32 years old and representing the United Arab Emirates out of Allstars Training Center, currently holds the number-one ranking in the middleweight division and sits tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. The Swedish-based fighter carries a 15-1 professional record and has built his reputation on a relentless, multi-dimensional attack. He lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent, while also averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — a combination that has made him one of the most difficult fighters on the roster to prepare for.

Why it matters

• Chimaev is ranked first at middleweight, meaning his weight situation directly affects the division's title picture.
• White's public endorsement signals the UFC's continued confidence in Chimaev despite the weight complications.
• A fighter who excels in both striking and grappling at this level raises the stakes for any potential opponent in the 185-pound class.