American MMA fighter TJ Dillashaw has revealed key details surrounding former UFC contender Khamzat Chimaev's recent fight against Sean Strickland. He stated that Chimaev had an extremely difficult weight cut, which severely impacted his performance in the octagon.
In an interview with MMA Fighting, Dillashaw noted that Khamzat looked incredibly strong during his training camp. According to him, Chimaev seemed like an unbeatable fighter during preparation, but the final stage of the weight cut derailed all plans.
“During the camp, Khamzat looked like a monster, as if he were unbeatable. However, the weight cut was absolutely brutal,” said Dillashaw.
He revealed that Chimaev felt so unwell at the end of the weight cut that he was even willing to offer Sean Strickland $1 million in compensation before the fight. This highlights the immense pressure his body was under.
Dillashaw mentioned that he had previously introduced Chimaev to renowned performance coach Sam Calavitta. He believes that for a fight of this magnitude, every detail—recovery, supplements, blood work, minerals, and hormonal balance—is crucial.
Drawing from his own experience, the American fighter emphasized that Calavitta provides precise instructions on water intake, sleep, and body management in the days leading up to a fight. However, it is reported that Chimaev and his team did not fully follow the expert's advice before the bout against Strickland.
According to Dillashaw, Sam Calavitta gave Chimaev specific instructions on how much water to drink. However, Khamzat only consumed a quarter of the required amount. Furthermore, he lost four times more weight than he should have in a single attempt, which was a devastating blow to his body.
“After that, his body just shut down. Yes, Khamzat was on the verge of death at that point. Honestly, he shouldn't have even stepped into the octagon in that condition,” said Dillashaw.
Nevertheless, Chimaev did not pull out of the fight. He entered the octagon against Sean Strickland and battled the tough opponent for five rounds. Dillashaw specifically praised this aspect, believing that going the full distance in such a dire state shows Khamzat's character.
For UFC fans, Chimaev's defeat was an unexpected result, as he was seen as one of the favorites. However, issues with the weight cut, physical exhaustion, and recovery errors likely affected his performance in the octagon.
Sean Strickland executed his game plan perfectly. He maintained pressure for five rounds, controlled the distance, and won by decision. While this result brought him a major victory, it became a painful lesson for Chimaev.
In short, TJ Dillashaw stated that a brutal weight cut was behind Khamzat Chimaev's loss to Sean Strickland. According to him, Chimaev pushed his body to the limit before the fight, yet still managed to stand against his opponent for five rounds. This defeat was a harsh lesson for Khamzat — to return to championship contention, he cannot forget that the weight cut is part of the fight.
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