Arthur Chimaev provided detailed information about his brother Khamzat's weight cut troubles before UFC 328. He explained that when 1.2 kg remained, Khamzat's body shut down due to oxygen shortage and he nearly lost consciousness. The process was interrupted for an hour due to health concerns. Two weeks before the fight, Khamzat weighed 97 kg, then around March 13 he was at 105 kg before cutting to 84 kg. Khamzat had originally agreed to fight Jiri Prochazka at 93 kg with a signed contract, but UFC contacted him directly asking him to fight Sean Strickland at 84 kg instead. By fight time, Chimaev had only regained 5-6 kg after weigh-ins. The team has requested a rematch with Strickland for October in Abu Dhabi.
Arthur Chimaev, brother and cornerman to Khamzat Chimaev, has spoken publicly about the harrowing weight cut that preceded Khamzat's middleweight contest against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9.
Arthur revealed that with 1.2 kilograms still to shed, Khamzat's body effectively shut down from oxygen deprivation and he came close to losing consciousness. The cut was halted for a full hour over health concerns before continuing. The numbers Arthur laid out illustrate how aggressive the reduction was: Khamzat weighed approximately 105 kilograms around March 13, stood at 97 kilograms two weeks before fight night, and ultimately had to reach the 84-kilogram middleweight limit. After making weight, he had recovered only five or six kilograms by the time the opening bell rang.
The situation was further complicated, Arthur indicated, by a late change in opponent and weight class. Khamzat had already signed a contract to face Jiri Prochazka at 93 kilograms, but the UFC approached him directly to take the Strickland fight at 84 kilograms instead. Prochazka, the second-ranked light heavyweight at 33 years old, carries a 32-6-1 record and a 203-centimeter reach, making the original catchweight a more natural landing spot for a fighter of Khamzat's frame.
Khamzat Chimaev enters the post-fight period ranked first in the middleweight division at 32 years old, holding a 15-1-0 record and a pound-for-pound ranking of tenth. He averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands significant strikes at 60 percent accuracy. His opponent, reigning middleweight champion Sean Strickland, is 35 years old with a 31-7-0 mark and throws at a volume of 6.04 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- The disclosed weight data raises serious questions about the health protocols surrounding large cuts to 84 kilograms
- Chimaev's team has formally requested a rematch with Strickland for October in Abu Dhabi, keeping the title picture in focus
- A potential Prochazka matchup at a catchweight remains unresolved after the original contract was set aside
Saturday, May 9, 2026
