In an interview with Vadim Tikhomirov, Khamzat Chimaev's older brother Said (Arthur) explained that Chimaev performed poorly against Strickland due to an extreme weight cut. When the fight was announced in March, Chimaev weighed 105 kg expecting to fight Prochazka at light heavyweight. Two weeks before UFC 328, he was at 97 kg. When 1.2 kg remained to cut, his body shut down and he was forced to pause for an hour before completing the cut. 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 at middleweight.
UFC 328
Saturday, May 9, 2026
