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Khamzat Chimaev faces weight issues ahead of Sean Strickland bout

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 2, 2026, 9:16 PM

Last updated Aug 2, 2026

Khamzat Chimaev faces weight issues ahead of Sean Strickland bout

Summary

Khamzat Chimaev's recent title defense against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 was marred by significant weight issues. Chimaev's coach, Murad Bichuev, revealed that Chimaev was initially preparing for a light heavyweight fight against Jiří Procházka but was switched to the middleweight clash against Strickland at the last minute. This late change appears to have contributed to problems with his weight cut. After the fight, Chimaev has expressed an eagerness to pursue a rematch. The details surrounding this matchup continue to evoke interest among fans and analysts alike.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Chimaev faced Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026.
•He was initially preparing for a fight at 205 pounds.
•Late switch to middleweight caused weight cut problems.
•Chimaev wants a rematch following his loss.
•The fight has raised discussions about fighter weight management.

Latest Updates

9:16 PMYahoo Sports — Khamzat Chimaev ‘was set to face Jiri Prochazka at 205’ before 185 pound Strickland swerve

What they're saying

"
What the hell happened to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328? That’s the question many fans have been asking since the Chechen’s anemic performance against Sean Strickland that resulted in him losing his middleweight title. Following the bout there was a lot of vague comments from Khamzat’s camp about weight issues and problems with the cut. […]
— Yahoo Sports

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