Joe Rogan offered an explanation for Khamzat Chimaev's underperformance in his UFC 328 title fight against Sean Strickland. According to Rogan, the issue may have been related to Chimaev's weight management and preparation. Prior to facing Strickland at middleweight, Chimaev had been attempting to bulk up in preparation for a potential light heavyweight title fight against Jiri Prochazka. Multiple rumors had circulated about this potential matchup, which was also confirmed by Khalil Rountree, a sparring partner who mentioned it in an interview well before the Strickland bout. Rogan suggested this weight fluctuation and change in preparation could have significantly impacted Chimaev's performance in the fight.
Longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan has offered an explanation for Khamzat Chimaev's surprising underperformance in his middleweight title challenge against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9, pointing to weight management and preparation as likely contributing factors.
Rogan's theory centers on a significant disruption to Chimaev's camp. Prior to the Strickland bout, Chimaev had reportedly been bulking up with an eye toward a potential light heavyweight title fight against Jiri Prochazka. That prospective matchup had generated considerable speculation, and light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree Jr. added weight to the rumors when he referenced it in an interview well ahead of UFC 328. Rogan suggested that shifting between weight classes in preparation — and then having to return to middleweight — could have meaningfully compromised Chimaev's readiness on fight night.
Strickland, who enters the verified record books at 31-7, retained his middleweight championship at the event. The 35-year-old American trains out of Xtreme Couture and brings a high-output striking game to the cage, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute while standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach.
The light heavyweight division Chimaev had been targeting is anchored by Jiri Prochazka, the Czech Republic-based contender who carries a 32-6-1 record and ranks second at 205 pounds. The 33-year-old trains out of Jetsaam Gym Brno and is one of the division's most aggressive strikers, connecting at a 55 percent accuracy rate and averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute. His six-foot-three frame and 80-inch reach make him a formidable physical presence.
Rountree Jr., who is ranked seventh at light heavyweight with a 15-7 record, had served as a sparring partner during Chimaev's reported preparation for that larger opponent — further supporting the idea that Chimaev's camp was genuinely oriented toward 205 pounds before circumstances changed.
Why it matters
- A disrupted weight camp offers a concrete explanation for an upset that raised immediate questions about Chimaev's form.
- Chimaev's reported flirtation with light heavyweight could resurface as a future divisional storyline involving Prochazka.
- Rountree Jr.'s pre-fight interview now reads as early confirmation of a camp direction that directly affected a title fight.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
