Sean Strickland is casting doubt on Khamzat Chimaev’s official weigh-in after defeating him by split decision in their UFC 328 main event at the Prudential Center.
The New Jersey State Athletic Commission recorded Chimaev at 185 pounds, and he was the last fighter to hit the scale during the two-hour official window, weighing in wearing briefs. Strickland, however, insists the challenger did not legitimately make the middleweight limit.
"He one thousand percent missed weight," Strickland said. "We had a guy from my camp watching him get on the check scale. When he stepped on, his whole camp said, 'F*ck.' And they dragged him up because he was running out of time. He one thousand percent missed weight. I don't b*tch about it. Be a heavyweight – I don't care. But at the end of the day, I heard he said he might want to move up to 205. He should, dude. If that weight cut's killing you, go to f*cking 205. Enjoy life. It's way easier competition."
Strickland also argued he should be compensated if Chimaev was over the limit, saying, "I should get 20 percent (of Chimaev's purse). What the f*ck, dude?"
UFC CEO Dana White pushed back on the controversy, pointing directly to the commission’s role. "You know the New Jersey State Athletic Commission oversees the weigh-ins, right?" White said, later adding, "Jeremy Stephens missed weight by four pounds, and they had to cut a deal – but for Khamzat, they're not going to let him make weight? Jersey and New York are the two toughest commissions in the country. The internet is f*cking stupid."
