In an interview with Vadim Tikhomirov, Khamzat Chimaev's older brother Said detailed the difficult circumstances around UFC 328. When the fight was announced in March, Chimaev weighed 105 kg expecting to fight Jiri Prochazka at light heavyweight. Two weeks before UFC 328, he still weighed 97 kg. When 1.2 kg remained to be cut, his body shut down and he was stopped for an hour before completing the weight cut. After weighing in, Chimaev only gained back 5-6 kg before the fight. The team has requested a rematch with Sean Strickland at middleweight for October in Abu Dhabi.
Khamzat Chimaev's team has shed light on the severe weight-cut struggles that preceded his appearance at UFC 328 on May 9, while also requesting a middleweight title rematch against Sean Strickland for October in Abu Dhabi.
Speaking in an interview with Vadim Tikhomirov, Chimaev's older brother Said described a harrowing road to the scale. When the fight was first announced in March, Chimaev — who was originally slated to face Jiri Prochazka at light heavyweight — was carrying 105 kg. With two weeks remaining before the event, he still weighed 97 kg. In the final stretch, Said revealed that when just 1.2 kg remained to be cut, Chimaev's body shut down entirely, forcing a halt of roughly an hour before he could complete the cut. He also recovered poorly after the weigh-in, gaining back only 5 to 6 kg before walking to the octagon.
Chimaev, 32, represents the UAE and trains out of Allstars Training Center in Sweden. He holds a 15-1-0 professional record and is currently ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. He is one of the sport's most complete threats, 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 is 35 years old. The American, who fights out of Xtreme Couture, is an exceptionally high-volume striker, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute, though his accuracy sits at 42 percent across a 76-inch reach.
Why it matters
- The weight-cut details raise questions about Chimaev's long-term viability at middleweight and whether a move to light heavyweight remains on the table.
- As the division's top-ranked contender, Chimaev has a strong case for a title shot against Strickland.
- A potential Abu Dhabi date in October would fit the UFC's pattern of major international events in the region, adding promotional weight to the request.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
