An interview with Hamzat Chimaev's older brother Said (Arthur) revealed significant details about the weight cut issues before UFC 328. When the Strickland fight was announced in March, Chimaev weighed 105 kg because he had been expecting to fight Jiri Prochazka at light heavyweight. Two weeks before UFC 328, he still weighed 97 kg. During the final stages of the cut, when 1.2 kg remained, Chimaev's body shut down and they paused for an hour before completing the weight cut. After weigh-ins, Chimaev only regained 5-6 kg before the fight. Chimaev's team has requested a rematch with Strickland at middleweight for October in Abu Dhabi.
Hamzat Chimaev's weight-cut struggles ahead of UFC 328 have been laid bare in a new interview with his older brother Said, also known as Arthur, who revealed the Chechen-born contender was carrying 105 kilograms when his middleweight fight against Sean Strickland was officially announced in March.
The dramatic weight situation stemmed from Chimaev's prior expectation of fighting at light heavyweight against Jiri Prochazka. When the matchup shifted to a middleweight contest with Strickland, Chimaev was left with an enormous cut to manage. Said revealed that two weeks before UFC 328, Chimaev still sat at 97 kilograms. During the final stretch of the cut, with 1.2 kilograms remaining, his body shut down entirely, forcing the team to pause for an hour before completing the process. Even after making weight, Chimaev recovered only five to six kilograms before stepping into the cage on May 9.
Sean Strickland, the current UFC middleweight champion, entered the contest with a record of 31 wins and 7 losses. The 35-year-old American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, is among the most active strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. He carries a 76-inch reach and competes out of an orthodox stance.
Prochazka, the No. 2-ranked light heavyweight contender whom Chimaev had originally been preparing to face, holds a record of 32-6-1. The 33-year-old Czech fighter is a relentless pressure fighter, averaging 5.69 significant strikes landed per minute with an impressive 55 percent striking accuracy.
Why it matters
- The weight-cut disclosure raises serious questions about Chimaev's performance at UFC 328 and whether the deficit affected the outcome.
- Chimaev's team has formally requested a rematch at middleweight this October in Abu Dhabi, which could put the middleweight title picture in flux.
- A potential return bout would again pit Chimaev against Strickland's high-volume orthodox striking style under circumstances where Chimaev enters better prepared physically.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
