Joe Rogan offered an explanation for Khamzat Chimaev's loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328, suggesting that weight fluctuations played a significant role. Rogan noted that Chimaev had been trying to gain mass in preparation for a potential light heavyweight title fight with Jiri Prochazka. There had been widespread rumors about Chimaev moving up to fight Prochazka, which was also confirmed by sparring partner Khalil Rountree in an interview before the Strickland fight. The implication is that these weight changes may have negatively impacted Chimaev's performance in the middleweight bout.
Joe Rogan has offered his theory on why Khamzat Chimaev fell short against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9, pointing to weight fluctuations as a likely factor in the middleweight contender's defeat.
Rogan suggested that Chimaev had been deliberately adding mass in anticipation of a potential move to light heavyweight to face Jiri Prochazka, and that the physical disruption of gaining and then managing that extra weight may have compromised his performance when he stepped back down to middleweight to meet Strickland.
The theory carries some weight beyond speculation. Light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree Jr., who holds a 15-7 record and trains alongside Chimaev, confirmed in a pre-fight interview that the two had been sparring in preparation for a possible Prochazka matchup. That corroboration lent credibility to the reports of Chimaev's division ambitions well before fight night.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, now stands at 31-7 and continues to prove a difficult puzzle for any opponent. The 35-year-old from the United States trains out of Xtreme Couture and unloads at an output of 6.04 significant strikes per minute, relentlessly pressuring opponents over 25 minutes.
Prochazka, the 33-year-old Czech contender currently ranked second at light heavyweight with a 32-6-1 record, carries his own elite striking credentials, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making him one of the most dangerous opponents in that division.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's loss raises questions about his future division, whether he remains at middleweight or commits to a light heavyweight move
- Strickland's championship position looks stronger after defeating a top contender
- Prochazka's status as a potential Chimaev opponent now depends on how the promotion responds to the result
Saturday, May 9, 2026
