Joe Rogan offered his analysis of why Khamzat Chimaev underperformed in his fight against Sean Strickland at UFC 328. Rogan suggested that Chimaev's preparation may have been significantly affected by initially planning to fight Jiri Prochazka for the light heavyweight title, which would have required him to bulk up in weight. There had been widespread rumors before the Strickland fight that Chimaev was scheduled to face Prochazka at light heavyweight. This theory was also supported by Chimaev's sparring partner Khalil Rountree, who confirmed in an interview long before the Strickland bout that Chimaev had been preparing for a move to 205 pounds. The weight cut and training adjustments may have played a major role in Chimaev's cardio issues during the fight.
Joe Rogan has weighed in on Khamzat Chimaev's underwhelming showing against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9, pointing to a reported weight and training camp conflict as the root cause of the performance.
Rogan's theory centers on the widely circulated pre-fight reports that Chimaev had originally been preparing to challenge Jiri Prochazka for the light heavyweight title, a move that would have required him to add significant mass before then cutting back down to middleweight for the Strickland bout. Rogan suggested that process disrupted Chimaev's conditioning and contributed to the cardio problems that appeared to surface during the fight.
The explanation carries added weight because Chimaev's own sparring partner, Khalil Rountree Jr., backed the narrative well before fight night. Rountree, a 36-year-old light heavyweight ranked seventh in the division with a 15-7 record, confirmed in an interview that Chimaev had been training specifically for a move to 205 pounds, lending credibility to the camp-disruption theory.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, entered UFC 328 at 35 years old carrying a 31-7 record and the kind of relentless volume that makes cardio lapses costly. The American fighter, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute and uses a constant forward pressure style that punishes opponents who fade late.
Prochazka, the other figure central to this story, is ranked second in the light heavyweight division at 33 years old with a 32-6-1 record. The Czech striker is known for his own high-volume output, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute with 55 percent accuracy, and a potential matchup with Chimaev at 205 pounds remains a compelling divisional storyline.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's reported weight manipulation between divisions raises questions about his long-term divisional home
- Strickland's title defense gains further context if Chimaev was compromised heading in
- Prochazka's status at light heavyweight and a potential Chimaev meeting at 205 pounds remains unresolved
Saturday, May 9, 2026
