Dana White revealed that Khamzat Chimaev approached him after the fight and informed him of his decision to move up to light heavyweight. This announcement comes following Chimaev's split decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328. The move represents a significant weight class jump for Chimaev, who had been competing at middleweight. No specific timeline or opponent for Chimaev's light heavyweight debut was mentioned. This contradicts an earlier post suggesting Chimaev might seek a rematch with Strickland at middleweight.
Khamzat Chimaev is leaving the middleweight division behind. UFC President Dana White confirmed on May 10, 2026, that "Borz" personally informed him after his fight that he intends to move up to light heavyweight, representing a significant jump of two weight classes from his most recent home at 185 pounds.
Chimaev, 32, carries a 15-1 record into this new chapter, with his only professional loss coming via split decision to Sean Strickland at UFC 308. The news arrives as a notable shift in direction, contradicting earlier suggestions that Chimaev might pursue a rematch with Strickland at middleweight. The UAE-based fighter, who trains out of Allstars Training Center in Sweden, had been ranked number one in the middleweight division and sat at number ten in the pound-for-pound rankings. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Chimaev brings a physically imposing and well-rounded game to the 205-pound weight class, having averaged 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and a striking accuracy of 60 percent throughout his career.
White did not announce a specific timeline or opponent for Chimaev's light heavyweight debut.
Why it matters
- Chimaev departs the middleweight division as its top-ranked contender, immediately reshuffling the 185-pound title picture
- Moving to light heavyweight adds him to one of the UFC's most talent-rich divisions, where his physical tools and grappling volume could translate effectively
- The decision closes the door, at least for now, on a potential Strickland rematch that many had anticipated following the contested split decision
