Updated

Updated · MMA Fighting · Jun 12

Chimaev Targets Strickland Rematch at 185 Pounds After UFC 328 Split-Decision Loss

Updated

Updated · MMA Fighting · Jun 12

Chimaev Targets Strickland Rematch at 185 Pounds After UFC 328 Split-Decision Loss

Q: Was Chimaev’s title loss due to a brutal weight cut, or was he simply outmatched by Sean Strickland?

It was likely both: Chimaev’s weight cut appears to have badly compromised him, and Strickland then exploited that decline well enough to earn the decision. The evidence for the weight-cut explanation is substantial. Chimaev and his team say he accepted the Strickland fight after preparing for a light-heavyweight matchup, then had to cut from roughly 231 pounds to 185. His brother said Chimaev’s body “shut down” with 2.7 pounds left, and that he regained only about 11 to 13 pounds by fight night. That fits Chimaev’s long-documented struggles making lower weights and helps explain why he started fast, then faded sharply. But the loss cannot be reduced only to dehydration or bad preparation. In the fight itself, Strickland survived an early takedown-heavy round, took over on the feet, managed distance, defended well enough against later grappling threats, and won a razor-close split decision. Reports from the bout describe Strickland’s jab, pace and takedown defense as key factors once Chimaev’s gas tank dropped. So the fairest reading is that Chimaev was not simply “outclassed” from the opening bell, but he also was not robbed by circumstance alone. The difficult cut appears to have weakened him materially, and Strickland was good enough, disciplined enough and durable enough to capitalize and win. That is why Chimaev’s camp sees “unanswered questions,” while the official result still reflects Strickland’s effective performance over five rounds.

Q: Will Chimaev's dangerous weight cuts force a move to light heavyweight, ending his middleweight title dreams?

Not yet. Chimaev’s weight cuts have clearly made a move to light heavyweight a real risk, but they have not ended his middleweight title pursuit because he and his team are now publicly committed to staying at 185 pounds for a rematch with Sean Strickland. The evidence that the cut is dangerous is strong. Chimaev said the UFC 328 loss followed a “brutal weight cut,” and his brother Artur described his body as having “shut down” with 2.7 pounds still to lose. Their camp says Chimaev accepted the Strickland fight after originally being lined up for a 205-pound bout, forcing a drop from about 231 pounds to 185. He reportedly regained only 11 to 13 pounds by fight time, suggesting he entered the cage depleted. That fits a broader pattern, including his past weight problems at UFC 279. Even so, Chimaev has reversed his immediate post-fight talk of leaving the division. Dana White said Chimaev initially wanted out of middleweight, but Chimaev has since insisted the Strickland rematch at 185 is “the only fight” he wants. His team has formally asked for that bout, potentially in Abu Dhabi in October. The bigger threat to his middleweight title hopes right now may be practicality, not desire. If he cannot make 185 safely and repeatedly, the UFC could eventually push him to 205. But based on his current stance, his middleweight ambitions remain alive, just under serious physical strain.

3 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · Jun 12

Khamzat Chimaev said he wants his next UFC fight at middleweight, rejecting talk of a move to 205 pounds after losing the 185-pound title to Sean Strickland at UFC 328.
At a RAF 10 press conference, Chimaev said he is waiting on UFC executives Dana White and Hunter Campbell to rebook the bout and blamed the first defeat on the judges.
That loss came after a brutal weight cut and fading conditioning, with Strickland rallying on the feet to win a split decision and become a two-time UFC middleweight champion.
Chimaev said he is staying active in the meantime with a wrestling debut against Dillon Danis at RAF 10 on Saturday, calling the appearance another way to make money.