Arthur Chimaev, brother of Khamzat Chimaev, disclosed details about the severe weight cut before the Strickland fight in an interview with Vadim Tikhomirov. Khamzat weighed 105 kg when the fight was announced, expecting to face Jiri Prochazka at light heavyweight, but agreed to drop to middleweight for Strickland. With 1.2 kg remaining, his body shut down due to oxygen deprivation, and the weight cut was paused for an hour. Arthur revealed Khamzat nearly lost consciousness during the process. After weigh-ins, Chimaev only regained 5-6 kg before the fight, and his body had not recovered by the second round. The team has requested a rematch with Strickland in October in Abu Dhabi.
Khamzat Chimaev's brother Arthur has shed new light on the grueling weight cut that preceded Chimaev's middleweight contest against Sean Strickland, revealing in an interview with Vadim Tikhomirov that the fighter came alarmingly close to losing consciousness during the process.
Arthur explained that when the Strickland fight was announced, Khamzat was already walking around at 105 kilograms, having originally prepared to compete against Jiri Prochazka at light heavyweight. Shifting down to middleweight required a dramatic reduction in body weight, and with 1.2 kilograms still to shed, Chimaev's body gave out due to oxygen deprivation. The cut was halted for a full hour before it could be completed.
The consequences carried into fight night. Despite the weigh-in being cleared, Chimaev managed to rehydrate only five to six kilograms before walking to the octagon, and Arthur stated the fighter's body had not recovered by the second round.
Chimaev, 32, represents the UAE and trains out of Allstars Training Center in Sweden. He holds a 15-1-0 professional record and sits at number one in the middleweight rankings, with a pound-for-pound ranking of tenth. His grappling credentials are considerable, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 60 percent.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, carries a 31-7-0 record and fights out of Xtreme Couture. The 35-year-old American is one of the division's most prolific strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Chimaev entered the fight significantly compromised, raising questions about the validity of the competitive result
- The team has formally requested a rematch with Strickland in October in Abu Dhabi, which would have direct title implications
- A rematch would pit the top-ranked middleweight contender against the champion in a high-profile setting, keeping the division's title picture unsettled
