Khamzat Chimaev Allegedly Pivoting Away From Light Heavyweight for Sean Strickland Rematch

Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland (Photo by Imagn Images)

Khamzat Chimaev Allegedly Pivoting Away From Light Heavyweight for Sean Strickland Rematch

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Pavan Sharma | Last updated May 16, 2026 4:41 AM ET

After UFC 328, Dana White revealed that Khamzat Chimaev wanted to move to light heavyweight. Chimaev shockingly lost his title to Sean Strickland, and after the loss, many discussed his poor weight cut and his potential move to light heavyweight. However, Arman Tsarukyan recently dropped a major update on the Chechen fighter’s next move.

Tsarukyan said the former middleweight champion was no longer focused on moving up to light heavyweight. He said Chimaev was now fully committed to getting a rematch with the American fighter. During a recent talk with Jaxxon Podcast, the Armenian fighter said:

“Khamzat wants to do the rematch. His head is ready to go, and he’s more motivated than before.”

Arman Tsarukyan confirms Khamzat Chimaev has dropped the idea of moving to light heavyweight and wants the Sean Strickland rematch instead

“Khamzat wants to do the rematch. His head is ready to go, and he’s more motivated than before.”

(Via @JaxxonPodcast ) pic.twitter.com/8SnKLhgodc
— FREAK.MMA (@FREAKMMA1) May 15, 2026

Instead of chasing a new division, Chimaev wanted to settle unfinished business with Strickland first. However, this time “Borz” needed to do a proper weight cut where he didn’t feel drained, as he cut more than 40 pounds during UFC 328, which was a huge amount of weight to cut.

Chael Sonnen Doesn’t Believe Khamzat Chimaev’s 46-Pound Weight Cut Story

Khamzat Chimaev’s brother and Arman Tsarukyan revealed that “Borz” had to cut more than 20 kg during UFC 328. However, UFC veteran Chael Sonnen was not buying the story that Khamzat Chimaev cut 46 pounds before his fight with Sean Strickland. In a recent video, the UFC veteran said:

“Told he cut 46 pounds the week of a fight… It’s not the statement, it’s that somebody in our industry would believe the statement that makes my blood boil.”

❓Chael Sonnen says Khamzat Chimaev’s weight cut story makes NO sense:

“Told he cut 46 pounds the week of a fight… It’s not the statement, it’s that somebody in our industry would believe the statement that makes my blood boil”

@ChaelSonnen pic.twitter.com/EsEmlL0pLZ
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 13, 2026

Sonnen believed the 32-year-old did not lose that much weight in such a short period. But Chimaev’s team claimed that the brutal weight cut pushed his body to the limit. As “Borz” suffered his first-ever loss in the UFC, fans were waiting to see his next move.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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