Former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is not trying to hide from the first loss of his professional MMA career. After falling to Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328, Chimaev immediately began pushing for a rematch instead of making public excuses for the defeat. Still, new details shared by his brother suggest the fighter may have entered the bout dealing with major physical issues tied to a brutal weight cut.
As reported by BroBible, before the fight even began, fans watching the weigh-ins noticed Chimaev did not appear fully healthy. Many observers pointed out how drained and exhausted he looked while making weight for the 185-pound title fight. That reaction surprised some MMA fans because Chimaev originally competed in the UFC at welterweight, where the limit is 170 pounds. Moving up to middleweight was expected to make life easier on his body, not harder.
According to Chimaev’s brother Artur, however, the situation became complicated after a major change in plans behind the scenes. In an interview with Sport RU, Artur explained that Chimaev had initially agreed to fight Jiri Prochazka at light heavyweight before eventually being booked against Strickland instead. Because of that expected matchup, Chimaev reportedly bulked up significantly in preparation for competing at 205 pounds.
Operation Sports App
Your ultimate companion for sports gaming. Access in-depth coverage, thoughtful discussion, and a community built around the games—and sports—you love.
Your ultimate sports gaming companion.
Chimaev Nearly Died
Artur claimed the added size created serious problems once the Strickland fight was finalized. He said Chimaev’s weight climbed as high as 231 pounds during camp. Even two weeks before the title fight, Artur said the former champion still weighed 214 pounds, leaving him with nearly 30 pounds left to lose before weigh-in day.
The situation reportedly became dangerous during the final stages of the cut. Artur described a frightening moment when Chimaev’s body began failing while he was trying to shed the final pounds before weigh-ins. “There was a problem with the weight cut. The question became whether to cancel the fight or take the risk. When there was 1.2 kg left, his body shut down … Oxygen deprivation,” Chimaev’s brother said.
He continued by describing how serious the issue became behind closed doors. “His body malfunctioned. We had to stop for an hour because his health wouldn’t allow him to continue… Khamzat himself said he didn’t know how he’d fight in that condition.”
Artur also explained that Chimaev never fully recovered physically before stepping into the cage against Strickland. “By fight time he had only regained around 5-6 kilograms (11-13 pounds)… Two weeks before the fight he weighed 97 kg (214 pounds),” he said. That detail may help explain why Chimaev appeared slower and less explosive than fans were used to seeing throughout his rise in the UFC.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Chimaev is reportedly not considering another move in weight classes. Instead, his focus appears locked entirely on avenging the loss to Strickland and reclaiming the middleweight title. According to Artur, the team has already started pursuing another fight with the new champion later this year.
“We’ve requested a rematch with Strickland. There’s an event in Abu Dhabi in October, and we want to do it there,” his brother stated. “Khamzat isn’t the type of person to move to another weight class and leave unanswered questions behind. We want the second fight. Right now we have no other goals.”
Published: May 13, 2026 02:00 pm