Arman Tsarukyan has provided further insight into the extreme difficulty of Khamzat Chimaev’s weight cut leading up to UFC 328. Chimaev, who faced Sean Strickland for the middleweight title, was defeated by split decision in a closely fought contest. Many observers noted Chimaev’s visibly drained appearance, which many attributed to a strenuous weight-cutting process.
During an appearance on the JAXXON Podcast, Tsarukyan disclosed that Chimaev lost a total of 40 pounds for the fight. The final day of the cut was particularly arduous, with Chimaev needing to shed nearly 13 pounds. Tsarukyan explained that while the initial 9-pound reduction was manageable, the subsequent 4 pounds proved to be a “nightmare.” Chimaev reportedly expressed a desire to stop cutting weight, but his team urged him to reach the required limit.
Tsarukyan stated, “From day 1 of his training camp, he cut 40lbs. He had to cut 13lbs on the last day. The first 9lbs was easy and he felt bad during the night, and then he woke up and said, ‘I feel so weak and have no energy. I don’t know how I’m gonna cut this 4lbs.’ He didn’t wanna finish the cut, but the team pushed him.”
Despite the challenging cut, Tsarukyan believes that on the morning of the fight, Chimaev felt sufficiently recovered. However, during the bout, he appeared to fatigue in the first round, leading him to adopt a striking-heavy approach against Strickland instead of his typical wrestling-focused style. Tsarukyan, who had witnessed Chimaev’s intense training sessions where he allegedly sparred for five rounds non-stop, was surprised by his performance. He surmised that the grueling weight cut was the most probable reason for Chimaev’s altered strategy and subsequent gassing out.
Furthermore, Tsarukyan expressed his opinion that in a close fight, the champion should retain their belt. Based on his analysis, Tsarukyan believes Chimaev actually defeated Strickland.
