
UFC 279 was set to be a star turn for surging welterweight Khamzat Chimaev.
“Borz” had been booked into something of a mismatch against one of the promotion’s biggest stars, Nate Diaz, with Diaz expected to compete inside the octagon for the final time this weekend. But on Friday, word soon spread that Chimaev was heavy. Very heavy.
As it turned out, he was 7.5lbs heavy for his welterweight fight with Diaz. Chimaev tipped the scales at 178.5lbs at the official weigh-in, jokingly saying “that’s not bad” and smiling as he stepped off the scale. After his pose, however, Chimaev would flip off the cameras, and no matter how much he tries to downplay it, the miss is not good.
Nevada athletic commission rules generally do not allow more than a 5lb weight discrepancy between fighters update: this differs by weight class, so they may be in the clear there — were Diaz to accept the fight. He may not, given the size of the miss. Leaving a very real possibility Friday morning that UFC 279 could be in need of a new main event.
Diaz weighed in successfully at 171lbs.
Chimaev’s fellow fighters, meanwhile, were far from impressed with the development. One former opponent, Gerald Meerschaert, may have gotten the best dig in at the Swedish star, whose antics a day earlier had caused the UFC 279 pre-fight press conference to be cancelled: “real gangsters make weight.”
See that and reactions from more fighters to Chimaev’s weight miss below.
I don’t think I’ve seen a fighter in recent history fall from public favor so fast. Just a month ago everyone loved Khamzat and then he took the Diaz fight, feuded with Paulo & Holland then misses weight and now people is shitting on him
— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) September 9, 2022
8-10 pounds?!? Unprofessional as fuck https://t.co/HvUCIkuW5N
— Casey Oneill (@kingcaseymma) September 9, 2022
Heavy salad man
— Molly McCann (@MeatballMolly) September 9, 2022
This can’t be real?? What is going on in Vegas this morning 😂🤣🤣 https://t.co/Iyi52kDJXy
— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) September 9, 2022
Real gangsters make weight.
— Gerald Meerschaert (@The_Real_GM3) September 9, 2022
What’s up @ufc I fight @NateDiaz209 tomorrow!!!
— Renato Moicano UFC (@moicanoufc) September 9, 2022
178.5lbs… 😬#UFC279
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) September 9, 2022
Me vs khamzat at 185 Tony vs Nate at 170 and. leech can be the special guest referee
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 9, 2022
Wow this 🤡! Shit show yesterday and now don’t make weight? 🤷🏾♂️ SHAME https://t.co/SV6zDOYRON
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) September 9, 2022
Real Gangster make weight! F🤬🤬K this guys! pic.twitter.com/3hH8RqvZI2
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) September 9, 2022
He clearly didn’t
— Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) September 9, 2022
Just trained with @DustinPoirier. He’s on weight and down to work with the @ufc. Even has wheels 🛩 on stand by. I say give the man a chance! #UFC279
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 9, 2022
Khamzat Chimaev fumbled the bag 💼. A -1200 favorite missing weight is unthinkable . With a big draw to build your name off … 🤯🤯🤯 #UFC279
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) September 9, 2022
Here
SO
NATE gets his show money and gets out of his contract w/o even having to beat up Chimaev…
The
DIAZ
MASTER
PLAN— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) September 9, 2022
Fuckin bullshit! pic.twitter.com/LWg1ielTb7
— Bryce Mitchell (@ThugnastyMMA) September 9, 2022