'Team Pushed Him': Arman Tsarukyan Reveals Brutal Truth Behind Khamzat Chimaev’s Dangerous Weight Cut

Arman Tsarukyan and Khamzat Chimaev (Image Credits: Imagn)

'Team Pushed Him': Arman Tsarukyan Reveals Brutal Truth Behind Khamzat Chimaev’s Dangerous Weight Cut

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Sarthak Khanna | Last updated May 16, 2026 2:14 AM ET

Arman Tsarukyan recently revealed new details about the brutal weight cut that Khamzat Chimaev had to go through before his UFC 328 bout against Sean Strickland. Speaking days after Khamzat Chimaev’s loss, Tsarukyan claimed Chimaev dropped around 40 pounds during camp and struggled badly during the final stages of the cut.

According to Tsarukyan, Chimaev still had 13 pounds left to lose on the final day before weigh-ins. While the first nine pounds reportedly came off without major issues, the remaining four became extremely difficult. Tsarukyan said Chimaev felt weak, had no energy, and even considered stopping the cut altogether before his team convinced him to continue.

“From day one of his training camp he cut 40lbs. He had to cut 13lbs on the last day. The first 9lbs was easy and he felt bad during the night, and then he woke up and said, ‘I feel so weak and have no energy. I don’t know how I’m gonna cut this 4lbs.’ He didn’t wanna finish the cut, but the team pushed him,” Tsarukyan stated.

⚖️Arman Tsarukyan tells the thruth regarding Khamzat’s weight cut

“From day one of his training camp he cut 40lbs. He had to cut 13lbs on the last day. The first 9lbs was easy and he felt bad during the night, and then he woke up and said, ‘I feel so weak and have no energy. I… pic.twitter.com/GnKQhdF7if
— Dovy (@DovySimuMMA) May 15, 2026

The difficult cut also became a major talking point during UFC 328 fight week. Fans and fighters questioned Chimaev’s condition after he appeared drained at the weigh-ins, and controversy followed after some observers accused officials of rushing his official weight reading.

Khamzat Chimaev Addresses Sean Strickland’s Trash Talk Calmly

Before the fight, the fighters had some intense rivalry moments. This included many below-the-belt attacks from Sean Strickland. However, Khamzat responded to them calmly. After the fight, he revealed why he had taken the quieter road.

“People were asking why I shook his hand and why I put the belt on him afterward,” Chimaev stated. He continued further by saying, “We don’t have the habit of talking or fighting after a loss. If we fight, we fight inside the cage, and we fought as best as we could. What Allah has decided is no longer in our control.”

Khamzat Chimaev went on stories to explain why he was friendly with Sean Strickland despite all of the trash talk that was said:

"And regarding that guy — he said a lot of unnecessary things. People were asking why I shook his hand and why I put the belt on him afterward. We… pic.twitter.com/xCvOmtVGtK
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 12, 2026

Chimaev’s response after the loss earned praise from many fans online, especially considering how heated the rivalry had become before UFC 328. While the buildup was filled with personal shots and tense exchanges, the Chechen star chose respect once the fight was over.

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

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