TJ Dillashaw sheds light on Khamzat Chimaev's weight cut for Sean Strickland fight at UFC 328

Khamzat Chimaev's most recent octagon appearance witnessed him lose his UFC middleweight title via a razor-thin split decision against Sean Strickland. The training partners-turned-rivals headlined UFC 328 earlier this month. 

After the first loss in the dominant Chechen fighter's MMA career, he and some of his associates suggested that his weight cut had severely depleted him and marred his performance.  Ex-UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw has now shed light on how Chimaev's weight cut not only hurt his performance but also almost cost "Borz" his life. 

T.J. Dillashaw on Khamzat Chimaev's horrific weight cut for Sean Strickland fight at UFC 328

Speaking to MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, T.J. Dillashaw recently recounted the horrific stories he's heard about Khamzat Chimaev's brutal weight cut for UFC 328. Dillashaw stated:

"He drank a quarter of the water he was supposed to drink, and then lost four times the amount he was supposed to lose. And his body just gave out. He did not want to make the weight." 

He indicated that Chimaev had almost given up on his weight cut and had a nearly fatal experience during the cut. The former MMA star said, "And you forget this guy has got half a thyroid. Right? His metabolism is half of a normal man... I really believe he was on the verge of death making that weight." 

Moreover, Dillashaw seemed to suggest that the bad weight cut notwithstanding, he still felt that Chimaev won the fight on points, albeit he acknowledged that Strickland getting the nod on the official scorecards wasn't a robbery per se. 

Nevertheless, further alluding to the disturbing repercussions of Chimaev's weight cut, he said, "And then to hear the story about what actually was happening to him, and like, him puking up green bile and just all, like, crazy sh**." 

 

Watch Dillashaw discuss Chimaev's awry weight cut below (*comments between 31:00 to 39:00-minute mark) 

Khamzat Chimaev is eyeing an immediate rematch after first MMA defeat

As of this time, Khamzat Chimaev's professional MMA record is 15-1. Prior to his defeat against Sean Strickland, which many deemed to be a massive upset, there was considerable speculation that he could move up to 205 pounds and attempt to capture the UFC light heavyweight title that's currently held by Carlos Ulberg. 

However, Chimaev has lately put forth multiple indications that he's not departing the 185-pound division until he reclaims the UFC middleweight title from Strickland. 

The 32-year-old recently sent an eerie warning to Strickland, reaffirming his interest in an immediate rematch for UFC middleweight gold. Given how closely contested their first encounter was, many fans and experts alike have called for them to clash again next. That said, the UFC has yet to officially announce their potential rematch.