Artur Chimaev, brother of Khamzat Chimaev, revealed that Khamzat's body shut down during the weight cut with 1.2 kg remaining, requiring a one-hour break before completion. Khamzat had been preparing to fight Jiri Prochazka at light heavyweight when UFC contacted him directly about facing Strickland, prompting a drastic cut from 105 kg to 84 kg. Artur stated that Khamzat nearly lost consciousness due to oxygen deprivation during the cut and only regained 5-6 kg before the fight. He noted Khamzat weighed 97 kg two weeks before the bout and 105 kg on March 13th. The team has now requested a rematch with Strickland for October in Abu Dhabi.
Khamzat Chimaev's weight cut ahead of his middleweight clash with Sean Strickland was far more harrowing than previously known, according to his brother Artur, who has now shared a detailed account of the ordeal.
Artur Chimaev revealed that Khamzat's body effectively shut down during the cut when he still had 1.2 kilograms remaining, forcing the team to pause for roughly an hour before he could continue. The situation stemmed from a late change of plans: Khamzat had been training to compete at light heavyweight against Jiri Prochazka when the UFC contacted him directly about replacing someone and facing Strickland instead, requiring a dramatic drop from 105 kilograms down to 84. Artur added that Khamzat weighed 97 kilograms just two weeks out from the bout and was still at 105 kilograms on March 13th. Oxygen deprivation nearly caused him to lose consciousness during the cut, and he managed to rehydrate only 5 to 6 kilograms before fight time.
Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev, 32, carried a 15-1 record and the number one middleweight ranking, as well as a place in the pound-for-pound top ten, into the contest. The UAE-based fighter out of Allstars Training Center stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and has built his reputation on relentless wrestling, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 60 percent striking accuracy.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, is 35 years old and holds a 31-7 record. The American, training out of Xtreme Couture, is six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and one of the division's highest-volume strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- The account raises serious questions about Chimaev's ability to compete at middleweight long-term and whether the loss reflects his true level.
- Artur confirmed the team has formally requested a rematch with Strickland for October in Abu Dhabi, which would put the middleweight title back in play.
- A potential Chimaev vs. Prochazka matchup at light heavyweight remains a possibility if a rematch does not materialise.
