Joe Rogan thinks Khamzat Chimaev’s possible move toward light heavyweight belongs in the conversation after his UFC 328 loss to Sean Strickland.
Chimaev lost the UFC middleweight title to Strickland by split decision on May 9, 2026 in Newark, dropping to 15-1 and suffering the first loss of his pro MMA career. Strickland became a two-time UFC middleweight champion at 31-7, while Chimaev’s future at 185 pounds immediately became a bigger story than a normal title-loss reset.
Rogan was asked about Chimaev wanting out of middleweight, with the idea that he had already been looking at 205 pounds.
“I don’t know. It was a good question because it could have been a factor.”
Joe Rogan believes Khamzat Chimaev bulking up for a move to 205 against Jiri Prochazka may have played factor in the title fight against Sean Strickland. 👀😲
"[Going to 205] could have been a factor. The fact that he said he did try to bulk up because he thought he was going to… pic.twitter.com/oPEQSOMw81
— FREAK.MMA (@FREAKMMA1) May 10, 2026
Rogan pointed to Chimaev adding size because he believed a light heavyweight matchup with Jiri Prochazka was possible.
“The fact that he did try to bulk up. He was thinking that he was going to fight Jiri Prochazka for 205.”
That detail fits with the bigger UFC 328 fallout. Dana White said Chimaev told him he did not want to fight at middleweight again. White also said he thought Chimaev had a rough weight cut, which became part of the post-fight discussion after Chimaev slowed following a dominant opening round.
Rogan Says A Rematch Would Look Different Emotionally
Rogan did not frame the bulk-up as the reason Chimaev lost. He kept it limited to a possible factor.
“We don’t know what type of factor that played.”
Rogan also said a second Strickland fight would not carry the same emotional drain.
“One thing we know for sure is that the build up to the rematch would be entirely different.”
He added:
“There would be less emotional expenditure out of Khamzat Chimaev.”
The point is not that Chimaev gets a pass. Strickland still won the fight, survived the early wrestling, and took the belt back. Rogan’s angle is narrower: if Chimaev was preparing his body for a potential light heavyweight jump, the return cut to middleweight may have been one more variable in an already messy title week.
Chimaev’s next move now matters as much as the loss itself. If he stays at middleweight, he has to answer the cut again. If he moves up, the Prochazka idea suddenly looks less like random noise and more like the path he was already building toward.
