UFC CEO Dana White has weighed in on the ongoing conversation about Russian-Emirati middleweight fighter Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328. Hours before Chimaev’s middleweight title defense against former training partner Sean Strickland, controversy rocked Chimaev’s weight qualification. Thanks to an X post from controversial UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell, many people think the Russian failed the weight test.
Several viewers reportedly believe the official didn’t allow the scale balance fully before yelling out Chimaev’s weight during the weigh-in. Mitchell argued the early reading is proof the UFC wanted Chimaev to retain the title. Since the controversy, top members of the UFC communities, from athletes to officials, have reacted to the weight-cut claims. One of these claims is indirectly linked to White, whose comments revealed a different angle to the story.
Dana White on Khamzat Chimaev’s weight-cut rumors
Following a back-and-forth battle across five rounds, Chimaev’s first title defense ended in Strickland’s favor. After the fight, Chimaev sportsmanly put the belt on Strickland as they buried the hatchet with the settled rivalry. While speaking during the post-fight presser, White disclosed that Chimaev asked to move up a weight class. For many viewers who have previously doubted Chimaev’s true weight, this announcement raises eyebrows. Even more, White claims Chimaev has had it “tough” maintaining his weight.
Dana: “With the level of success and the lifestyle makes it tough.”
Question: “Do you feel like he has lived up to the full potential?”
Dana: “When you see somebody fight for the first time, you think ‘Wow, this guy’s special’. And then they become a UFC champion.”
Question: “So, you’d say he reached his potential in the UFC?”
Dana: “100%”
Although the fight was close throughout, White agreed with the final scorecards that awarded the win to Strickland and crowned him a two-time UFC middleweight champion. The new champion already has a new lineup of potential contenders waiting to face him at 185 pounds. But Chimaev is already pushing for a 205-pound debut.
White insists that Chimaev might have maxed out his potential at middleweight and is on course to explore new grounds in a new class. Whether White’s comments about Chimaev’s struggles lend any credence to the weight-cut accusations is as good as anyone’s guess. But for now, it’s ‘party time’ for Strickland, and ‘retreat season’ for Chimaev.
