Khamzat Chimaev's Coach Discusses Weight Class Switch Ahead of UFC 328

Khamzat Chimaev was initially preparing for a light heavyweight title fight against Jiri Prochazka before the UFC shifted his focus to defending the middleweight belt against Sean Strickland, according to his coach, Murad Bichuev.

Bichuev explained that Chimaev had been bulking up to compete at 205 pounds, which involved significant muscle gain. However, the UFC's decision to have him fight Strickland at 185 pounds came with little time for adjustment, leading to complications in his preparation. The official change was announced on February 28, leaving Chimaev's team with over two months to adapt.

Chimaev's performance in the fight against Strickland raised concerns about his conditioning, with his camp attributing some issues to the weight cut. Following the bout, Chimaev expressed a desire for a rematch, although interest from fans appears limited. Strickland regained the middleweight title after their fight.