Rogan: Chimaev's preparation for Prochazka fight hindered him vs. Strickland

Joe Rogan has offered an explanation for Khamzat Chimaev's underwhelming performance against Sean Strickland at UFC 328. According to Rogan, Chimaev had been preparing for and expecting a light heavyweight title bout with Jiri Prochazka, attempting to add mass for that division. This preparation may have negatively impacted his middleweight conditioning and performance against Strickland. The claim is supported by earlier statements from Chimaev's sparring partner Khalil Rountree, who mentioned the Prochazka matchup in interviews well before the Strickland fight materialized. The theory suggests that switching opponents and weight classes at short notice compromised Chimaev's fight readiness.