Arthur, Khamzat Chimaev's brother, revealed extensive details about the disastrous weight cut in an interview. When 1.2 kg remained, Chimaev's body shut down, requiring hour-long breaks due to health concerns, and he nearly lost consciousness from oxygen deprivation. Chimaev had originally agreed to fight Jiri Prochazka at 93 kg with a signed contract, but accepted a last-minute fight with Sean Strickland at middleweight. This meant cutting from 105 kg to 84 kg, having weighed 97 kg just two weeks before the fight. After weigh-ins, Chimaev only regained 5-6 kilograms before the bout, far below normal rehydration levels. The team has requested a rematch with Strickland for October in Abu Dhabi. Arthur acknowledged that fans rightfully question why such an extreme weight cut was attempted in such a short period.
Khamzat Chimaev's brother Arthur has come forward with a detailed account of the harrowing weight cut that preceded Chimaev's middleweight bout against Sean Strickland, painting a picture of a body pushed to its absolute limits in an impossibly short timeframe.
According to Arthur, Chimaev weighed 105 kilograms at the heaviest point and was sitting at 97 kilograms just two weeks before fight night. Cutting to the middleweight limit of 84 kilograms in that window proved catastrophic. When approximately 1.2 kilograms remained, Chimaev's body effectively shut down. The team was forced to take hour-long breaks due to health concerns, and Chimaev came close to losing consciousness from oxygen deprivation. After making weight, he reportedly rehydrated by only five to six kilograms before stepping into the cage, a fraction of what fighters typically recover.
The context behind the cut adds another layer. Chimaev had a signed contract to fight Jiri Prochazka at a 93-kilogram catchweight. When that bout fell through, he accepted a last-minute replacement fight against Strickland at middleweight, an entirely different weight class requiring a far more severe reduction on a compressed schedule.
Chimaev, 32, fights out of Allstars Training Center and holds a 15-1-0 record. Ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, he is among the most complete fighters in the sport, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and boasting a 60 percent striking accuracy. Strickland, 35, is the reigning middleweight champion with a 31-7-0 record. Fighting out of Xtreme Couture, he averages 6.04 significant strikes per minute and has earned a reputation for relentless volume output.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's team has formally requested a rematch with Strickland for October in Abu Dhabi, keeping the division's top two in a collision course.
- The weight cut raises serious questions about fighter health management and short-notice fight agreements.
- Arthur acknowledged that criticism from fans over the decision to attempt such a drastic cut is entirely justified.
