Podcast host Joe Rogan offered an explanation for Khamzat Chimaev's disappointing performance against Sean Strickland at UFC 328. Rogan suggested that Chimaev's preparation for a potential light heavyweight title fight against Jiri Prochazka significantly impacted his middleweight performance. The fighter had been bulking up in anticipation of competing at 205 pounds before the bout with Strickland was arranged. According to the post, there had been considerable speculation about a Chimaev versus Prochazka matchup at light heavyweight, which was also confirmed by Khalil Rountree, a sparring partner, in interviews prior to the Strickland fight. This weight fluctuation and change in preparation may have contributed to Chimaev's inability to perform at his usual level.
Joe Rogan has weighed in on Khamzat Chimaev's subdued showing against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9, offering a pointed theory for why the Chechen-Swedish contender fell short of expectations.
Rogan suggested that Chimaev had been actively bulking up in preparation for a potential light heavyweight title fight against Jiri Prochazka before the Strickland matchup was assembled. That shift in camp focus — gaining mass for 205 pounds only to then redirect toward a middleweight bout — may have left Chimaev compromised on fight night. The explanation carries added weight given that light heavyweight number-two contender Khalil Rountree Jr., who served as a sparring partner, confirmed in pre-fight interviews that the Prochazka matchup had been a genuine target for Chimaev's camp.
Sean Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, entered the contest at 31-7 and at 35 years old has built his title reign on relentless volume striking, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. The American trains out of Xtreme Couture and has proven difficult to derail for anyone operating below their physical peak.
Prochazka, the Czech light heavyweight ranked second at 185 pounds, carries a 32-6-1 record at 33 years old and trains out of Jetsaam Gym Brno. At six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, he averages 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making him one of the most dangerous opponents in that division. The speculation around a Chimaev versus Prochazka matchup was evidently substantial enough to shape an entire training camp.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's reported weight gain for a 205-pound camp could explain a diminished performance at middleweight
- Strickland's middleweight title picture remains intact following the win
- The Prochazka matchup, once widely discussed, now appears shelved, reshaping the light heavyweight contender landscape
Saturday, May 9, 2026
