Arthur Chimaev, brother of Khamzat, revealed in an interview with Vadim Tikhomirov that Khamzat's body gave out when he had 1.2 kg left to cut, requiring an hour break due to health concerns before completing the weight cut. Originally, Khamzat had a signed contract to fight Jiri Prochazka at light heavyweight, weighing 105 kg in March, but accepted a last-minute fight with Sean Strickland at middleweight. Two weeks before the fight, Khamzat weighed 97 kg and cut from there to 84 kg, nearly losing consciousness from oxygen deprivation during the process. After weigh-ins, Khamzat only rehydrated 5-6 kg before the fight, and his team has requested a rematch with Strickland in October in Abu Dhabi.
Details are emerging about the severe physical toll Khamzat Chimaev endured to make middleweight for his bout against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9, with his brother Arthur revealing the full extent of the struggle in an interview with journalist Vadim Tikhomirov.
According to Arthur Chimaev, Khamzat's body effectively shut down when he still had 1.2 kilograms left to shed, forcing his team to pause the cut for approximately an hour over health concerns. The cause was oxygen deprivation, and the fighter came close to losing consciousness before eventually completing the process. The situation was compounded by the circumstances surrounding the fight itself: Chimaev had originally signed to meet Jiri Prochazka at light heavyweight, with a contracted weight of 105 kilograms in March. He accepted the Strickland matchup at short notice instead, carrying 97 kilograms just two weeks out from fight night and needing to reach the 84-kilogram middleweight limit.
The rehydration window offered little recovery. Arthur stated that Khamzat replaced only five to six kilograms before walking into the cage.
Chimaev, 30 — now 15-1 and ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound — is one of the most physically imposing fighters in the weight class at six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. He averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and connects on 60 percent of his significant strikes, the highest accuracy figure among the principals involved.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, is 31-7 at 35 years old and brings relentless output, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute across his career with a 76-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's team has formally requested a rematch with Strickland in October in Abu Dhabi, setting up a potential immediate title fight
- The weight cut details raise questions about Chimaev's long-term viability at middleweight given his natural size
- A proposed Prochazka bout at light heavyweight remains a possible alternative path, with Prochazka currently ranked second at 205 pounds
Saturday, May 9, 2026
