Khamzat Chimaev's brother has revealed that Khamzat experienced serious problems during his weight cut for UFC 328. With 1.2 kg remaining to lose, Chimaev's body began shutting down and they called a doctor. After some time passed, they decided to continue the weight cut and successfully made weight, though the brother believes the fight should have been canceled due to the severity of the situation. The difficult weight cut may have impacted Chimaev's performance in his loss to Sean Strickland. Following the defeat, Chimaev has requested a rematch with Strickland in Abu Dhabi this fall.
Khamzat Chimaev's weight cut ahead of UFC 328 on May 9 came dangerously close to forcing a medical emergency, according to a revelation made by his brother days after the event.
The brother disclosed that when Chimaev still had 1.2 kilograms left to shed, his body began to shut down, prompting the camp to call a doctor. After receiving attention, the team made the decision to press on with the cut and ultimately got Chimaev to the scale on time. His brother has since stated he believed the fight should have been called off given how serious the situation was. The difficult cut is now being raised as a possible factor in Chimaev's performance during his loss to Sean Strickland, the bout that ended his unbeaten run.
Chimaev, who fights out of Allstars Training Center and represents the United Arab Emirates, entered the contest ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound. The 32-year-old carries a 15-1-0 record and is one of the most physically dominant fighters in the division, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 60 percent. The defeat to Strickland was the first loss of his professional career.
Strickland, who holds the middleweight title, is a relentless volume striker operating out of Xtreme Couture. The 35-year-old American holds a 31-7-0 record and stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a pressuring, forward-moving style that can expose opponents who are less than 100 percent.
Following the defeat, Chimaev has reportedly requested a rematch against Strickland, with Abu Dhabi this fall put forward as the desired location.
Why it matters
- The disclosure raises questions about fighter safety protocols around extreme weight cuts at the professional level
- A potential rematch between the top-ranked contender and the middleweight champion would carry significant divisional consequences
- Chimaev's camp's insistence on continuing the cut despite a medical call may fuel debate about whether the result reflects a true competitive outcome
Saturday, May 9, 2026
