The anticipation for UFC 328 in Newark has been completely overshadowed by a weigh-in debacle that has left the MMA community in a state of absolute furor.
Khamzat Chimaev, the undefeated middleweight champion, was the final fighter to step on the scales just minutes before the deadline on Friday.While he was officially announced at 185 lbs, a massive controversy has erupted online.Fans and fellow fighters have pointed to video evidence showing the scale still visibly moving when the weight was cleared. Reportedly, Chimaev underwent a staggering 21 kg (45 lbs) weight cut during fight week alone, leading many to wonder, how do the UFC players even shred their weight overnight?
How Do UFC Fighters Shred Weight Overnight?
To the average observer, losing such a massive amount of weight in 24 hours seems biologically impossible, but for elite fighters, it is a calculated, albeit dangerous, scientific process. The shred is almost entirely about water manipulation rather than fat loss. Fighters begin water loading days in advance, consuming up to two gallons of water daily to put their kidneys into a flushing mode. When they suddenly stop intake, the body continues to purge fluid through sweat and urination at an accelerated rate.
On the final night, fighters endure the sauna cycle or hot salt baths, where they sit in extreme heat to sweat out the last remaining liters of extracellular fluid. This process effectively dries out the muscles and brain, allowing them to hit a weight lower than their actual walking weight.
However, as seen with Chimaev's ghost-like appearance in Jacksonville, the margin for error is razor-thin; once the body hits its limit, it can stop sweating entirely, risking total organ failure.
Khamzat Chimaev's Weight Cut Controversy at UFC 328
The drama surrounding Chimaev's contested weight was only amplified by the sheer animosity of his rivalry with Sean Strickland.Fans have accused the New Jersey State Athletic Commission of institutional favoritism, alleging they cleared the weight prematurely to protect tonight's Saturday, May 9 main event at the Prudential Center.
Strickland, never one to mince words, slammed the champion on social media, labeling him a 'cheat' and claiming the UFC would do anything to protect their 'undefeated poster boy.'
This tension reached a violent boiling point at the UFC 328 press conference. The verbal war with ended with Strickland attacking Chimaev's heritage and Chimaev mocking Strickland's personal history as it turned physical during the face-off.
Despite a heavy security presence, Chimaev launched a sudden kick toward Strickland's midsection. Dana White and nearly a dozen security officers had to scramble to separate the two. Below is the disturbing sounds coming from the press conference as Strickland yelled, "You're a f***ing punk b***h. This f***ing b***h didn't even make weight, you cheating f***.
"F*** you, you son of a w***e, b***h."