Arman Tsarukyan Clarifies Khamzat Chimaev Situation After Criticism From UFC Legend on Alleged 45 Pound Weight Cut

Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan clears the air regarding Khamzat Chimaev's weight struggles leading up to UFC 328 title loss.

Arman Tsarukyan Clarifies Khamzat Chimaev Situation After Criticism From UFC Legend on Alleged 45 Pound Weight Cut

Khamzat Chimaev and Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 328 (via MMA Fighting)

In Short
  • Arman Tsarukyan revealed Khamzat Chimaev cut 40 pounds during his training camp, including 13 pounds on the final day.
  • Chimaev appeared visibly weak and exhausted during the UFC 328 weigh-ins, raising concerns about his weight cut.
  • Despite the loss, both Chimaev and Tsarukyan are scheduled to compete at RAF 10 on June 13, 2026.

There is no doubt that Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 328 loss devastated Arman Tsarukyan, who fell to his knees inside the octagon after the shocking defeat. The two trained together in recent times, with the Armenian star playing a major role throughout Chimaev’s preparation for UFC 328. Tsarukyan has now revealed brutal details regarding the Chechen star’s severe weight struggles.

Tsarukyan was not consistently present throughout Chimaev’s training camp because he spent time travelling and making appearances under the RAF banner. However, the Armenian contender became a regular presence at Treigning Lab and Santo Studio during the camp’s final stages. He was also seen in Chimaev’s corner during UFC 328, advising the Chechen phenom between rounds throughout the fight.

At the inaugural UFC 328 weigh-ins, Chimaev arrived last and appeared visibly weak and physically drained before stepping onto the scale. The Chechen star also struggled walking toward the weighing area, raising concerns surrounding his brutal weight reduction process. ‘Borz’ looked exhausted by the second round itself. Tsarukyan has now revealed the severe struggles he endured during the difficult cut.

From day 1 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.

Arman Tsarukyan via Jaxxon Podcast

Tsarukyan was also among the first people to reveal that Chimaev reportedly lost nearly 21 kilograms within one week. The extreme weight reduction appeared obvious during the UFC 328 weigh-ins, where Chimaev looked visibly drained and exhausted throughout. However, UFC legend Chael Sonnen recently stated that he does not believe that the former champion actually lost that much weight.

Chimaev’s struggles remained visible throughout the fight as his usual pressure noticeably declined inside the octagon during several crucial moments. Known for his elite grappling, Chimaev landed only nine takedowns with barely six minutes of control time. The performance sharply contrasted his UFC 319 victory over Dricus Du Plessis, where he secured 12 takedowns and nearly 22 minutes of control time.

Despite the devastating loss, Khamzat Chimaev has already resumed training for his upcoming grappling match against Dillon Danis at RAF 10. Arman Tsarukyan is also scheduled for the event and will compete against UFC veteran Tony Ferguson on the same card. Fans will once again witness Chimaev and Tsarukyan’s partnership at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 13, 2026.

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Arman Tsarukyan lists out the qualities of his arch nemesis

Arman Tsarukyan was widely viewed as Ilia Topuria’s next title challenger following his dominant victory over Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar. However, the UFC and Dana White reportedly sidelined the Armenian superstar because of his past behavioural issues and controversies. The promotion instead moved forward with an interim title fight at UFC 324, where Justin Gaethje captured the interim championship.

Arman Tsarukyan
Arman Tsarukyan (via Bloody Elbow)

Now, Topuria is scheduled to face Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 in a lightweight title unification headliner bout. However, Topuria and Tsarukyan have remained engaged in a heated war of words, with their rivalry intensifying online recently. Despite the ongoing tension, Tsarukyan recently acknowledged several strong qualities possessed by the Georgian-Spanish lightweight champion.

Ilia has good boxing and a good calf kick. He has a good pace, good boxing, and a good calf kick. That’s all.

Arman Tsarukyan via Jaxxon podcast

It appears Dana White is finally warming up to Tsarukyan, who now seemingly finds himself out of the UFC dog house. The UFC CEO recently announced that the Armenian contender will serve as the official backup fighter for UFC Freedom 250. Arman Tsarukyan could therefore receive another massive title opportunity if either Ilia Topuria or Justin Gaethje withdraws before the event.

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