Khamzat Chimaev successfully made the middleweight limit of 185 pounds for his UFC 328 title bout against Sean Strickland with mere minutes to spare. According to his close friend and training partner, Arman Tsarukyan, Chimaev endured a severe weight cut, shedding approximately 21 kilograms (46 pounds).
Following the weigh-in ceremony, Chimaev appeared visibly drained and lacked the energy to engage with his team or the media, presenting a picture of extreme fatigue. This drastic weight cut was evident on the Chechen-born Emirati fighter.
In stark contrast, Sean Strickland was among the first fighters to successfully make weight.
Observing Chimaev’s demeanor after weighing in, Daniel Cormier conveyed his concern, stating, “He looks pretty dejected, man. He’s hurting. How did this man make weight? He’s miserable. He looks so skinny.”
Chimaev himself has indicated that this will be his last performance at middleweight, expressing a desire to move up to the light heavyweight division (205 pounds) for his future fights.
Bryce Mitchell’s Doubts on Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 328 Weigh-In
Bryce Mitchell has publicly questioned the legitimacy of the UFC 328 weigh-ins, alleging that the scales may have been manipulated and that Khamzat Chimaev did not actually make weight. Mitchell stated, “That dude didn’t make that weight. There’s no convincing me bro… it’s all bullsh*t. [Khamzat] gets special treatment… he didn’t make that weight and I think Sean’s champ already. They don’t want him to win because they can’t control what he says and he loves America.”
Furthermore, numerous online observers noted that the scale appeared to be pre-set to 185 pounds before Chimaev stepped on it, and the commission did not adjust it, leading to speculation that the reading was fixed.