Dana White addressed why Khamzat Chimaev, who once competed at welterweight, now struggles to make middleweight. White attributed the difficulty to lifestyle changes that accompany success, making weight cuts more challenging. He also stated that Chimaev has fully realized his potential, noting that from the moment he saw Chimaev, he believed he was special, and Chimaev went on to become a UFC champion. White's comments suggest he views Chimaev's career trajectory as a success despite recent challenges.
Dana White broke down the reasons behind Khamzat Chimaev's ongoing weight issues in comments made around UFC 328, shedding light on why a fighter who once competed at welterweight now finds it difficult to make the 185-pound middleweight limit.
White attributed the struggles to the lifestyle changes that come with success, suggesting that as fighters reach a certain level of fame and financial comfort, the discipline required for demanding weight cuts becomes harder to maintain. He also offered a broader assessment of Chimaev's career, stating he recognized the fighter's special qualities from the very beginning and pointing to his UFC championship as proof that potential was fully realized.
Chimaev, 32, carries a 15-1-0 record and currently sits at number one in the middleweight rankings, as well as number ten in the pound-for-pound standings. Fighting out of Allstars Training Center and representing the United Arab Emirates, the six-foot-two, 188-centimeter orthodox striker has built one of the division's most overwhelming profiles. He lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 60 percent accuracy rate, and his wrestling is equally suffocating, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's weight management directly affects his ability to remain active at middleweight, where he is the division's top-ranked contender.
- White's public framing of the issue as a lifestyle problem rather than a physical one raises questions about how the UFC will manage his schedule going forward.
- A fighter with Chimaev's grappling volume and striking efficiency commands attention in any division, making the weight question a significant one for the 185-pound landscape.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
