Ali Akbar Rosady
Former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion T.J. Dillashaw has leveled serious accusations regarding Khamzat Chimaev’s weight cut leading up to his pivotal UFC 328 middleweight clash against Sean Strickland, claiming the undefeated fighter was on the "verge of death" due to mismanagement. Dillashaw, who spent a significant portion of Chimaev’s training camp observing him, expressed profound shock at Chimaev’s struggles on the scale and subsequent performance in the Octagon, a stark contrast to his earlier camp form.
The highly anticipated bout at UFC 328 saw Sean Strickland reclaim the UFC middleweight title via a split decision, a result that surprised many given Chimaev’s dominant 13-0 record prior to the event. However, much of the pre-fight narrative in the final 24 hours centered not on the impending clash of styles, but on Chimaev’s visibly compromised state during the official weigh-ins.
Dillashaw, whose own career saw him navigate numerous demanding weight cuts to secure two UFC bantamweight titles and who now owns Wild Society Nutrition, stated he recognized immediate red flags during fight week. "Khamzat looked like an animal for his camp, like he was unbeatable," Dillashaw told MMA Fighting, reflecting on Chimaev’s initial preparation. "There was no way he was going to get beat, but then you get someone that you’re paying—there’s a lot of frauds in this world—and the way that they made him cut weight was horrible."
Dillashaw highlighted the critical role of expert guidance in weight management, advocating for his own long-time collaborator, Sam Calavitta. "What he needed to do, I introduced him to Calavitta and Sam Calavitta is the best in the business. You can say whatever you want about it, what he does that people don’t do, he’s so smart and the amount of work that he puts into a camp is insane," Dillashaw explained. Calavitta’s approach, as described by Dillashaw, involves meticulous attention to detail, including recovery protocols, supplementation, mineral balance derived from blood work and hair samples, and hormone level monitoring, all aimed at achieving peak athletic performance. "And then, unfortunately, they had trusted someone else to do some of his nutrition and weight cut towards the end and it just ruined it all," Dillashaw lamented, implying a departure from Calavitta’s recommended strategies.
Related News :
- NFL Week 10: Advanced Projections, Lineup Strategies, and Defensive Matchup Analysis Released
- UFC Welterweight Rinat Fakhretdinov, Alongside Loik Radzhabov and Elizeu Zaleski, Departs Promotion Following Contract Expiration
- Sean Strickland Reclaims Middleweight Title in Tense UFC 328 Bout Against Khamzat Chimaev.
- UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland Middleweight Title Bout Headlines Newark Card with High Stakes and Expert Predictions.
- Las Vegas Prepares for Blockbuster UFC 326 as Holloway and Oliveira Face Off in BMF Title Rematch.
Following the weigh-ins, and even after his victory, Strickland voiced unconfirmed suspicions that Chimaev might not have genuinely made the required weight, suggesting a potential favor from the New Jersey commission. These allegations remain unproven and have not been corroborated by official sources.
When pressed on the primary cause of Chimaev’s severe difficulties, Dillashaw pinpointed water management as the critical factor. "Well, the water," Dillashaw stated. "I mean, if I could put it to one thing… like your body will shut down. Like you can’t go and lose 10 pounds all at once and not drink enough water to tell your brain and your body to like, ‘Hey, let’s keep losing weight. Let’s keep pushing water.’" He elaborated on the physiological consequences of improper water depletion: "If you lose too much of it too fast in one sitting, your body will stop sweating. Yeah, you might only have three pounds to go, but guess what? That’s gonna take you seven, eight hours because you’re dying. You’re straight up dying. Your body’s telling you you’re dying."
Dillashaw offered insight into the precise methods employed by expert weight-cutters like Calavitta, contrasting them with Chimaev’s alleged experience. "I know exactly how many ounces I’m drinking every day during fight week. I know exactly when I’m going to bed every single day. [Calavitta] knows what I’m going wake up at. He knows how much I’m going float at night and they didn’t do it." According to Dillashaw, Calavitta had provided specific instructions regarding Chimaev’s water intake that were reportedly ignored. "He would tell them, like, ‘Hey, there’s so much water he should probably drink.’ They didn’t listen, right? And so he drank a quarter of the water he was supposed to drink and then lost four times the amount he was supposed to lose in one sitting and his body just gave out."
The situation escalated to a point where Chimaev reportedly considered forfeiting the fight. "He did not want to make the weight. He wanted to give Strickland $1 million and say, ‘Hey, take it. I can’t make it, I’m going to die.’" Dillashaw further emphasized a critical medical condition unique to Chimaev: "And you forget this guy’s got half a thyroid, right? His metabolism is half of a normal man. And so if you’re not treating it the right way, you could kill him. And I really believe he was on the verge of death making that weight cut." Chimaev has previously spoken about his battle with post-COVID complications, including damage to his lungs and a compromised thyroid, which significantly impacts his metabolic function and makes weight management inherently more challenging and dangerous.
The lead-up to the UFC 328 main event was characterized by significant animosity between Chimaev and Strickland, necessitating additional security measures by the UFC to prevent any unscheduled confrontations. Despite the tension, the fighters touched gloves before the bout and appeared to squash their beef post-fight. The contest itself was remarkably close, with Strickland ultimately securing the victory by winning two scorecards to become a two-time 185-pound champion.
While Dillashaw conceded that the decision was not a "robbery," he maintained that Chimaev’s performance was severely hampered. "I thought he won at least three rounds with the fourth round even being close," Dillashaw asserted. "It was a close fight due to Khamzat’s underperformance—massive underperformance. And that’s why Sean don’t want to fight him again. Sean knows, like, ‘Oh, I escaped this one. OK, cool.’ Because he felt the first round and it would have been continuously that." Dillashaw went on to detail the alarming specifics of Chimaev’s pre-fight ordeal, recounting a recent conversation with Calavitta. "And then to hear the story of what actually was happening to him and him puking up green bile and just all the like crazy shit. He should not have made it to the fight."
Dillashaw expressed profound admiration for Chimaev’s resilience, given the circumstances. "And to see how he performed still, Round 5, Round 4, he still had the better fight in cardio than in Strickland, and Strickland’s supposed to be a cardio guy. Khamzat’s the one going forward landing the bigger shots, right? So Sean won a fight going backwards, throwing a jab? I don’t see it that way. But it makes me realize how tough Khamzat is to do as well as he did on almost dying before getting on that scale. Like I’m saying, almost dying, like scary stories."
Currently, Chimaev is reportedly pushing for an immediate rematch against Strickland. However, UFC CEO Dana White indicated at the UFC 328 post-fight press conference that "Borz" had expressed interest in moving up to the light heavyweight division. Despite White’s comments, Chimaev’s public statements and actions since the fight largely suggest a desire for a second crack at Strickland at middleweight, though no official plans have been announced.
Dillashaw emphasized the importance of acknowledging Chimaev’s extraordinary efforts and shifting the narrative surrounding his performance. "People need to understand: What he pushed through to fight is impressive," Dillashaw stated. "And to do it with, again, the guy’s got half a thyroid. Really. Do your research and understand what that does to your metabolism, and that’s why weight cuts are hard for him. He just needs to do it the right way." Dillashaw believes Chimaev should aim to reclaim the 185-pound title before contemplating a move to 205 pounds. He pointed out that Chimaev was only 16 pounds over the middleweight limit at the start of fight week, a manageable deficit with proper technique. "That is easy. I show up 15 pounds over before, and I’m a smaller guy. I show up 15 pounds above 135 on fight week when they do your weight check. But it’s about the water displacement."
Dillashaw concluded with a cautionary message for the sport, underscoring the necessity for fighters to exercise diligence in selecting their weight-cut specialists. "And I know when I’m 15 pounds over on Sunday going into that week, I’m 15 pounds over and I’m hydrated, drinking the water I’m supposed to drink, I made weight. It’s easy after that. Now it’s just water displacement, and unfortunately they didn’t do that. Again, you’ve got to be really careful with these fighters out there. You got to do some research and really understand how guys are doing stuff. Because we’re still in a sport that’s pretty early and there’s a lot of frauds out there." His claims highlight the ongoing challenges and potential dangers associated with extreme weight cutting in professional mixed martial arts.
💬 Tinggalkan Komentar dengan Facebook
Author Profile
Latest entries
MMAMay 27, 2026Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Etches Name in NBA History, Murray Joins Vikings, March Madness Picture Crystallizes Ahead of Selection Sunday.
MMAMay 27, 2026Ilia Topuria Points to UFC as Stumbling Block for Islam Makhachev Superfight, Shifts Focus to Lightweight Ambitions
MMAMay 27, 2026Dillashaw Alleges Chimaev Faced Life-Threatening Weight Cut Issues Ahead of UFC 328 Bout
MMAMay 27, 2026UFC 329: Matt Brown Assesses Critical Stakes for Conor McGregor, Citing Retirement if Absence Continues.
Anshari Taslim
rifan muazin
Jonas Leo
