TJ Dillashaw revealed shocking details about Khamzat Chimaev's weight cut before the Sean Strickland fight after speaking with Sam Calavitta. Chimaev drank only one-quarter of the required water, vomited green bile, and was near death. The complications were worsened by Chimaev having only half of his thyroid gland. Chimaev's team hired a different specialist for the final weight cut instead of following Calavitta's protocols, which led to the crisis.
TJ Dillashaw has publicly detailed the alarming conditions Khamzat Chimaev endured during his weight cut ahead of the middleweight title fight against Sean Strickland, painting a picture of a camp that came dangerously close to catastrophe.
Dillashaw, speaking after a conversation with renowned weight-cut specialist Sam Calavitta, revealed that Chimaev consumed only a quarter of the water he was supposed to drink during the cut. The Allstars Training Center fighter vomited green bile and, according to Dillashaw, was close to death. Complicating matters further, Chimaev has only half of his thyroid gland, a condition that made the extreme dehydration significantly more dangerous. The crisis stemmed in part from Chimaev's team electing to use a different specialist for the final stage of the cut rather than adhering to Calavitta's established protocols.
Chimaev, 30 years old and now ranked first at middleweight and tenth pound-for-pound, carries a record of 15 wins and one loss. The six-foot-two Emirati fighter is one of the division's most imposing presences, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing 60 percent of his significant strikes — figures that make him a matchup nightmare at any weight.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, is 31-7 and stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach. The 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture throws at a relentless pace of 6.04 significant strikes per minute and has built a 31-fight career on volume and durability.
Why it matters
- The revelations raise serious questions about the medical oversight surrounding elite fighter weight cuts
- Chimaev's thyroid condition suggests dropping to middleweight carries exceptional health risks for him going forward
- Bypassing Calavitta's protocols directly contributed to the emergency, calling into question the decision-making within Chimaev's camp
- The episode could influence how the UFC and athletic commissions scrutinize Chimaev's future weight management
