Khamzat Chimaev announced his arrival on the UFC scene back in 2020 with a bang! With an amateur record of 3-0, ‘Borz’ turned professional in 2018 and began to live up to his nickname which means ‘wolf’ in his native Chechen. He ran through his competition in Brave Combat Federation which also included a first-round knockout over Ikram Aliskerov, who would later join the UFC as well.

And when it came time to step inside the Octagon, Chimaev kept up his momentum as he is yet to lose a fight in the UFC. What is even more remarkable is the fact that his UFC debut against John Phillips was at middleweight and just 10 days later, he faced Rhys McKee at welterweight. This gave rise to some pressing questions in the MMA sphere: how much weight does he actually cut?

What is Khamzat Chimaev’s walkaround weight?

For those unaware, weight cutting is a grueling process where fighters drop pounds rapidly before a fight. Unlike the celebrities slimming down for red carpet events, this isn’t just about looking good; it’s about qualifying for a smaller weight division. But how do they do it? It involves extreme measures like dehydration, fasting, and sweating it out in saunas or with special suits.

This isn’t just about fitting into a weight class; it is also about strategy. Fighters aim to weigh in as light as possible, then rehydrate and bulk back up before stepping into the ring or cage. It’s a risky game, but for many athletes, it is a way to gain a size advantage.

For Khamzat Chimaev, whose style is primarily based on his wrestling skills, with striking to add another layer of threat, the weight advantage was huge as a welterweight. For his time in the 170 lbs. division, it was revealed by various sources that ‘Borz’ would walk around at 195 lbs. (approx)!

The prime example of the size disparity at welterweight for Chimaev was evident in his bout against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 in 2022. Standing at 6’2 inches tall and rehydrated back to 195 lbs. after the weigh-ins, ‘Borz’ looked visibly bigger than ‘Durinho’ inside the cage. Although the fight was a closely contested affair, Chimaev walked away victorious with a unanimous decision win on the night. But cutting that much weight also comes with its drawbacks. Something Khamzat Chimaev had to find out the hard way before he decided to make a permanent move up to a different weight class!

Why did Khamzat Chimaev move from welterweight to middleweight?

Khamzat Chimaev’s quest for welterweight gold might already be in the rearview mirror. Why? At UFC 279 in 2022, Chimaev was scheduled to take on the legendary Nate Diaz at welterweight. However, when it came time to step on the scales, ‘Borz’ faced a huge setback. He weighed in at 178.5 lbs, well over the welterweight limit for non-title fights in the UFC.

The result? Instead of Diaz, Chimaev took on Kevin Holland in a catch-weight bout contested at 180 lbs. Missing weight was a major red flag, leading many to question whether Chimaev’s body could handle the harsh cuts to welterweight anymore. As such, UFC CEO Dana White later confirmed at a press conference in London, “Yeah, he’ll fight at middleweight.”

And true to the UFC boss’s statement Chimaev’s last fight at UFC 294 in 2023 was contested at 185 lbs. against Kamaru Usman where he once again walked away with a victory. Now, he’s set to take on former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 on October 26. The two were previously supposed to clash in June at UFC on ABC 6, but due to health complications shortly before the fight, ‘Borz’ was replaced by a familiar face, Ikram Aliskerov!

Now, with a chance to make his way into the middleweight title picture, will Khamzat Chimaev’s shift to 185lbs. unlock his full potential? The UFC 308 showdown could be his ticket to the title, and perhaps even cement his place among the sport’s elite. One thing is for sure: the ‘wolf’ is still hungry, and the hunt continues!