Khamzat Chimaev’s Brother Says Weight-Cut Problems Hurt UFC 328 Loss, Requests Rematch vs Sean Strickland

Khamzat Chimaev’s brother, Artur, says the fighter had serious weight-cut problems before his middleweight title loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328. Artur also says the camp has asked for a rematch later this year.

Weight cut problems before the fight

Artur told UFCcoverage that the team faced a major issue while cutting weight. “There was a problem with the weight cut,” he said. When about 2.7 pounds were left, Khamzat’s body “shut down.”

Artur described “oxygen deprivation” and said Khamzat’s body “malfunctioned.” The corner had to stop the process for an hour because Khamzat’s health would not allow him to continue. According to Artur, Khamzat said he did not know how he would fight in that condition.

Changed plans: from 205 to middleweight

Artur also said Khamzat had originally been preparing for a fight at 205 pounds. “There was an agreement with the UFC that he would fight Jiri Prochazka at 205,” Artur said. He added that a contract had been prepared for that fight.

Then, Artur says, the UFC asked Khamzat to fight Sean Strickland for the middleweight title instead. Khamzat accepted and cut a large amount of weight. Artur said Khamzat cut from about 231 pounds down to 185 pounds. By fight time, Artur estimates Khamzat had only regained around 11–13 pounds. Two weeks before the fight, Khamzat weighed about 214 pounds.

Rematch request and next steps

After the event, UFC president Dana White said Khamzat told him he would move up to 205 pounds for his next fight. Artur says that is not the plan right now.

“We’ve requested a rematch with Strickland,” Artur said. He added that they want the rematch in Abu Dhabi in October. “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.”

For now, the main story is the weight cut and the rematch request. The UFC and Sean Strickland have not confirmed the proposed October return or the Abu Dhabi plan.