Brother reveals Khamzat Chimaev’s weight cut issues ahead of UFC 328

Khamzat Chimaev struggled with his weight cut before losing to Sean Strickland. | Getty/UFC

Khamzat Chimaev was allegedly promised a fight at light heavyweight. 

Chimaev (15-1) had long been hinting at a move up to light heavyweight. However, Chimaev put his middleweight title on the line against Sean Strickland (31-7) at UFC 328 last weekend. Chimaev showed signs of fatigue early in the second round, completely abandoning his wrestling thereafter. Strickland outpointed Chimaev on the feet via a split decision, handing “Borz” his first professional loss. Chimaev had also looked completely drained at the weigh-ins, even getting accused of missing weight. 

Chimaev’s brother, Artur Chimaev, recently revealed the former middleweight champion had a terrible weight cut. Chimaev’s body allegedly shut down with just over two pounds to cut. Artur claims even Khamzat didn’t know how he would go forward with the bout. 

Artur claims Khamzat was originally promised a fight against Jiri Prochazka at light heavyweight before the UFC suddenly asked him to fight Strickland. While Chimaev decided to cut down to middleweight, it became clear in the second round that he hadn’t fully recovered. However, Artur doesn’t want to make any excuses for the loss. Artur told SportsRu.

‘His Body Shut Down’

“There was an issue with the weight cut. The question became whether to cancel the fight or take the risk. When there was 1.2 kg [2.7 pounds] left, his body shut down…Khamzat also said he didn’t know how he could fight in that state. And in the second round it became clear that his body hadn’t recovered. There was an agreement with the UFC that he would fight Jiri Prochazka [at 205]. The contract was already prepared, but then they contacted him directly and asked him to fight Sean instead. Khamzat is the kind of person who doesn’t refuse in situations like that — so he accepted and decided to cut from [231 pounds] down to [185 pounds]. What’s happened has happened, and nothing can be done about it. I don’t want it to look like we’re making excuses.”