Khamzat Chimaev's brother revealed that Khamzat experienced serious weight cutting issues before UFC 328. With 1.2 kg remaining to lose, his body shut down and refused to cooperate. A doctor was called, but after some time they decided to continue the weight cut and successfully made weight. According to his brother, the fight should have been canceled given the circumstances. Despite the difficult preparation and subsequent loss to Sean Strickland, Chimaev has requested a rematch to take place in the fall at an Abu Dhabi event.
Khamzat Chimaev's camp has revealed that the Swedish-Emirati contender battled a severe weight cut crisis in the days leading up to UFC 328 on May 9, and has since requested a rematch with Sean Strickland in Abu Dhabi this fall.
Details emerged through Chimaev's brother, who disclosed that with 1.2 kilograms still to shed, Khamzat's body effectively shut down and refused to respond to further cutting measures. A doctor was summoned, and after assessment the team chose to push through, ultimately allowing Chimaev to make the middleweight limit. His brother was candid, stating the fight probably should have been called off given how serious the situation became.
Chimaev, 32, entered UFC 328 ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound standings, carrying a 15-1 record. Fighting out of Allstars Training Center, the six-foot-two fighter boasts a remarkable 60 percent striking accuracy and an elite takedown rate of 5.29 per fifteen minutes, numbers that had made him one of the division's most feared competitors. The weight cut ordeal preceded what became his second professional loss.
Standing across from him was Sean Strickland, who defended the middleweight championship and improved to 31-7. The 35-year-old American, known as Tarzan, trains at Xtreme Couture and has built his game around relentless output, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. The six-foot-one champion has now successfully defended his title against the division's top-ranked challenger.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's weight cut troubles raise questions about his long-term viability at 185 pounds
- A rematch would carry immediate title implications, with Chimaev still ranked as the division's number-one contender
- Strickland's high-volume striking versus Chimaev's elite grappling rate makes a second meeting a compelling stylistic clash
- An Abu Dhabi setting would align with Chimaev's UAE ties and the UFC's growing presence in the region
Saturday, May 9, 2026
