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Morning Report: Joe Rogan suggests aborted division change could have affected Khamzat Chimaevâs UFC 328 weight cut
TL;DR
Khamzat Chimaev lost to Sean Strickland at UFC 328, raising questions about his weight cut. Joe Rogan suggested that an aborted division change may have impacted Chimaev's performance.
Key points
- Khamzat Chimaev lost for the first time at UFC 328
- Sean Strickland won by split decision
- Joe Rogan speculated on Chimaev's weight cut issues
- Chimaev looked unhappy during the official weigh-ins
- The fight strategy may have been influenced by weight cut difficulties
Mentioned in this story
Newark, New Jersey
Khamzat ChimaevSean StricklandUFC 328
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MAY 08: Khamzat Chimaev of Russia is interviewed by Joe Rogan during the UFC 328 ceremonial weigh-in at Prudential Center on May 08, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)
Khamzat Chimaev lost for the first time at UFC 328, and the theories as to what went wrong are already flying.
The immediate answer to Chimaevâs problems was the always befuddling Sean Strickland, who pulled off the second massive title fight upset of his career to once again become champion Saturday in Newark, N.J. Strickland won a split decision in a bout comprised primarily on the feet due to Stricklandâs grappling defense and an odd strategy employed by Chimaev that may have been influenced by a difficult weight cut.
Chimaev looked unhappy on the scale at the official weigh-ins and itâs possible comfortably making the championship weight of 185 pounds may have taken a greater toll on him than usual. The cageside commentary team of Daniel Cormier, Joe Rogan, and Jon Anik speculated on the situation immediately after the fight.
âDoes Khamzat want to fight at 185?â Cormier said. âThey said he already has his eyes on 205. I donât know.â
Chimaev has made it no secret he would like to move up to the light heavyweight division, not only for the chance to win a title in a second weight class, but to greatly reduce the stress he puts on his body making the middleweight cut. He has also competed as a welterweight and famously missed the 170-pound by 7.5 pounds for UFC 279 in September 2022, a gaffe that spoiled a Chimaev vs. Nate Diaz fight and caused the last three matchups of the event to be shuffled.
In this instance, Chimaev could possibly have already been bulking up to fight at 205 pounds, but had to shed a significant amount of that when the Strickland fight was booked.
âGood question, because it could have been a factor,â Rogan told Cormier. âThe fact that he did try to bulk up plus thinking that he was going to fight Jiri Prochazka for 205.â
Q&A
What happened to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328?
Khamzat Chimaev lost by split decision to Sean Strickland at UFC 328.
How did Joe Rogan link Khamzat Chimaev's weight cut to his performance?
Joe Rogan suggested that an aborted division change could have affected Chimaev's ability to comfortably make weight, impacting his performance.
What was the outcome of the fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland?
Sean Strickland won the fight, reclaiming the title with a split decision victory.
Why was Khamzat Chimaev unhappy during the weigh-ins?
Chimaev appeared unhappy on the scale, indicating that making the championship weight of 185 pounds may have been particularly challenging for him.
