In an interview with Vadim Tikhomirov, Hamzat Chimaev's brother Arthur provided extensive details about the disastrous weight cut. When 1.2 kg remained, Chimaev's body shut down and he experienced oxygen deprivation, nearly losing consciousness. They paused for an hour due to health concerns before continuing. Chimaev weighed 105 kg when the fight was announced in March, expecting to fight Jiri Prochazka at light heavyweight, but two weeks before UFC 328 he still weighed 97 kg. After weigh-ins, Chimaev only regained 5-6 kg before the fight. The team has requested a rematch with Strickland in October in Abu Dhabi.
Hamzat Chimaev's weight cut for UFC 328 came dangerously close to a medical emergency, according to his brother Arthur, who described the ordeal in a detailed interview with Vadim Tikhomirov released in the days following the May 9 event.
Arthur Chimaev revealed that when Hamzat had approximately 1.2 kilograms left to shed, his body effectively shut down. He suffered oxygen deprivation and came close to losing consciousness entirely, forcing the team to halt the cut for roughly an hour before proceeding. The situation was made more severe by the circumstances leading into fight week. When the bout was announced in March, Chimaev weighed 105 kilograms, a figure that reflected his original expectation of competing at light heavyweight against Jiri Prochazka. That matchup never materialized, and Chimaev instead found himself cutting to middleweight. With two weeks remaining before UFC 328, he still registered 97 kilograms on the scale. The recovery after weigh-ins was also limited, with Arthur stating Chimaev managed to rehydrate only five to six kilograms before walking to the octagon.
His opponent, Sean Strickland, is the reigning middleweight champion. The 35-year-old American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, carries a record of 31 wins and 7 losses and holds a six-foot-one frame with a 76-inch reach. Strickland lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute and has built his championship tenure on relentless forward pressure and volume.
Why it matters
- The account raises serious questions about fighter safety protocols surrounding extreme weight cuts at the elite level.
- Chimaev's team has formally requested a rematch against Strickland in October in Abu Dhabi, meaning the division could revisit this rivalry under different physical conditions.
- Prochazka, ranked second at light heavyweight with a 32-6-1 record, remains a potential future opponent if Chimaev's team reconsiders the weight class long term.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
