Chimaev requests move to light heavyweight division after UFC 328 loss

Khamzat Chimaev has requested a move to light heavyweight following his loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9, with UFC president Dana White confirming the conversation took place in the aftermath of the fight.

Chimaev, known as "Borz," told White directly that he no longer wants to compete at middleweight and wants to make the step up to 205 pounds. White acknowledged he has not yet identified specific opponents for Chimaev at light heavyweight but described the potential transition as interesting. The 32-year-old from the United Arab Emirates had been the number-one ranked middleweight and sat tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings heading into UFC 328, making the request a notable shift in direction for one of the division's most prominent figures. Fighting out of Allstars Training Center, Chimaev carries a 15-1 record and has built his reputation on a suffocating blend of wrestling and striking, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a 60 percent accuracy rate.

Why it matters

• Chimaev's departure would create significant movement in the middleweight top-five, with the number-one contender spot now open following his loss to Strickland.
• A move to light heavyweight at 188 cm and a 191 cm reach gives Chimaev a credible physical profile for the 205-pound division.
• White has not named potential opponents, leaving Chimaev's place in the light heavyweight landscape undefined for now.
• The request follows a defeat, raising questions about whether the division change is motivated by competitive recalibration or a longer-term strategic shift.