Joe Rogan offered an explanation for Khamzat Chimaev's underwhelming performance against Sean Strickland at UFC 328. According to Rogan, Chimaev had been preparing and bulking up for a potential light heavyweight title fight against Jiri Prochazka, which could have significantly impacted his conditioning and performance at middleweight. This theory is supported by previous rumors and statements from Khalil Rountree, a training partner of Chimaev, who mentioned the Prochazka matchup in interviews long before the Strickland fight. The weight management issues may have played a major role in Chimaev's inability to maintain his usual pace and dominance.
Joe Rogan has offered a theory explaining why Khamzat Chimaev looked well below his usual standard during his middleweight bout against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9, though the explanation has not been officially confirmed by Chimaev or his team.
According to Rogan, Chimaev had reportedly been bulking up in preparation for a potential light heavyweight title fight against Jiri Prochazka, and the added mass may have seriously compromised his conditioning when he was ultimately matched against Strickland at 185 pounds. The theory carries some weight given that Khalil Rountree, a training partner of Chimaev, had referenced the Prochazka matchup in interviews well before the Strickland contest was finalized.
Chimaev, 32, entered UFC 328 as the number-one ranked middleweight with a 15-1-0 record and a reputation built on suffocating grappling. Competing out of Allstars Training Center under the UAE flag, he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 60 percent of his significant strikes — numbers that suggest a fighter who controls opponents completely. Neither trait appeared fully on display against Strickland.
Sean Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, is 35 years old and holds a 31-7-0 record. Fighting out of Xtreme Couture, the American is one of the busiest strikers in the sport, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute, and his 76-inch reach gives him the tools to keep opponents at range.
At the center of the rumored move up is Prochazka, the Czech Republic's 33-year-old number-two ranked light heavyweight. Standing six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, the Jetsaam Gym Brno product lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy and carries a 32-6-1 record.
Why it matters
- If accurate, the weight-gain theory reframes Chimaev's performance as a conditioning issue rather than a competitive ceiling.
- A potential move to light heavyweight would place Chimaev in title contention in a second division.
- The rumored Prochazka matchup, if pursued, would pit two of the most physically dominant fighters in their respective weight classes against each other.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
