Khamzat Chimaev's brother disclosed that Chimaev experienced serious problems during his weight cut, with his body failing when he had 1.2 kg remaining to lose. A doctor was called, but the decision was made to continue cutting weight despite the medical concerns. The brother stated the fight should have been cancelled due to Chimaev's condition. According to the report, Chimaev's body did not recover even by the second round of the fight. Following his loss, Chimaev has requested a rematch with Sean Strickland for autumn at an event in Abu Dhabi.
Khamzat Chimaev's brother has publicly revealed that the Swedish-born contender suffered severe weight-cut complications ahead of his recent middleweight bout against Sean Strickland, and that Chimaev's camp is now pushing for a rematch this autumn in Abu Dhabi.
According to the brother's account, Chimaev's body gave out when he still had 1.2 kilograms left to shed before the fight. A doctor was called to assess his condition, yet the decision was ultimately made to press on with the cut despite medical concerns being raised. The brother stated plainly that the fight should have been cancelled, and added that Chimaev had not physically recovered even by the second round of the contest.
Chimaev, 32, entered the fight carrying a record of 15 wins and 1 loss and held the number-one ranking at middleweight, sitting tenth on the pound-for-pound list. Fighting out of Allstars Training Center and representing the United Arab Emirates, "Borz" had built his reputation largely on a suffocating grappling game, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a 60 percent accuracy rate.
He was attempting to dethrone Sean Strickland, who now holds a 31-7-0 record and retains the middleweight championship. The 35-year-old American from Xtreme Couture is an orthodox pressure striker with a six-foot-one frame and a 76-inch reach, pumping out 6.04 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's disclosed medical state raises serious questions about fight-week oversight and whether the bout should have proceeded
- A rematch would pit the division's top-ranked contender against the champion again, with significant title implications at 185 pounds
- The contrasting styles — Chimaev's elite wrestling versus Strickland's relentless volume striking — ensure the divisional stakes of any rematch would be considerable
