UFC veteran knows how to solve 'conspiracy' about Khamzat Chimaev's terrifying weight-cut

A UFC veteran has proposed a way to prevent controversy around weigh-ins after Sean Strickland accused Khamzat Chimaev of cheating ahead of UFC 328, despite hitting the 185lb limit just 20 minutes before the cut-off.

Strickland is set to challenge Chimaev for the UFC middleweight title at UFC 328 in New Jersey, with both men making the 185lb limit during Friday’s weigh-in.

However, after a heated build-up — which saw Chimaev kick Strickland during their face-off — the American labelled the champion a “cheat”, while others also questioned whether the Russian had genuinely made weight, pointing to his gaunt appearance and “dejected” demeanour on the scales.

Officially, Chimaev made weight, but that did not stop former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion-turned-commentator Daniel Cormier from voicing concerns.

“Look at his demeanour, he is miserable,” Cormier said. “He looks so skinny right now.

“He looks pretty dejected, man. He’s hurting.”

Meanwhile, UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan claimed Chimaev had to cut 21 kilograms to make weight ahead of his maiden title defence against South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis last summer.

Controversial UFC bantamweight Bryce Mitchell also shared his thoughts, insisting “that dude didn’t make that weight”.

“I know what it looks like when somebody makes that weight. They have to stand completely still. The little thing on the scale has to balance,” he said.

“That dude didn’t make that weight. There’s no convincing me, bro.

“It’s all bulls***, dude. That is not what it looks like when somebody makes weight.”

Since the controversy, veteran UFC flyweight Tim Elliott has proposed a solution to stop the so-called weight conspiracies.

“I can solve all the weigh-in conspiracies! Have everyone weigh in on digital scales with the weight plastered on every screen. You’re welcome,” Elliott wrote on X.

Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling then weighed in, saying: “Absolutely ridiculous we use a digital scale in the back just to jump on a tip scale.”

Official weigh-ins currently take place on manual balancing scales rather than digital ones.

UFC 328 full card

Main card

• Khamzat Chimaev vs Sean Strickland (middleweight title)
• Joshua Van vs Tatsuro Taira (flyweight title)
• Alexander Volkov vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta (heavyweight)
• Sean Brady vs Joaquin Buckley (welterweight)
• King Green vs Jeremy Stephens (lightweight)

Prelims

• Ateba Gautier vs Ozzy Diaz (middleweight)
• Joel Alvarez vs Yaroslav Amosov (welterweight)
• Grant Dawson vs Mateusz Rebecki (lightweight)
• Jim Miller vs Jared Gordon (lightweight)

Early prelims

• Roman Kopylov vs Marco Tulio (middleweight)
• Pat Sabatini vs William Gomis (featherweight)
• Baisangur Susurkaev vs Djorden Santos (middleweight)
• Clayton Carpenter vs Jose Ochoa (flyweight)