Khamzat Chimaev's brother reveals severe weight cut issues before UFC 328

Arthur Chimaev, Khamzat's brother, disclosed in an interview with Vadim Tikhomirov that Khamzat experienced serious health complications during his weight cut. When Khamzat had only 1.2 kg left to lose, his body shut down and he nearly lost consciousness due to oxygen deficiency, requiring a one-hour break during the cut. Khamzat had been preparing to fight Jiri Prochazka at light heavyweight when UFC asked him to face Strickland at middleweight instead, forcing him to cut from 105 kg to 84 kg. After weigh-ins, Khamzat only regained 5-6 kg before the fight, far less than typical rehydration. The team has requested a rematch with Strickland for October in Abu Dhabi.