Khamzat Chimaev lost his UFC middleweight title at UFC 328 and says he will move up to light heavyweight. Dana White confirmed the move at the post-fight press conference.
What happened at UFC 328
Chimaev lost a split-decision to Sean Strickland on Saturday night and gave up the UFC middleweight title. The fight was competitive early, with Chimaev showing a strong start, but the judges sided with Strickland in the end.
After the fight, White said Chimaev walked up to him and told him he no longer wants to fight at middleweight. White announced that Chimaev plans to move up to 205 pounds.
Weight cut concerns
There was talk during fight week that the 32-year-old Chimaev had to cut about 46 pounds to make the middleweight limit. He looked drained at the weigh-ins, and White thinks the tough weight cut affected his performance on fight night.
White said he had seen Chimaev stand up and trade early in his career, but this time the weight cut may have held him back. White called Chimaev a tough fighter and added that he expected Chimaev to keep fighting hard despite the loss.
What’s next for Chimaev
Chimaev fought at welterweight earlier in his career and had already signaled he would not stay long at middleweight. Now the move to light heavyweight appears official.
It is not yet clear who Chimaev will face at 205 pounds. White said he is not thinking about Chimaev’s next opponent yet, but he called the move ‘exciting.’
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Khamzat Chimaev | Lost by split decision to Sean Strickland (lost middleweight title) |
| Sean Strickland | Won by split decision over Khamzat Chimaev |
Chimaev’s move to light heavyweight will be watched closely. Fans and analysts will wait to see how he performs at 205 pounds and who his first opponent will be in the new division.
