Khamzat Chimaev competes in the UFC middleweight division. That's the 185-pound (84 kg) weight class where he's made his biggest mark as the current champion.

Quick Facts

  • Primary Division : Middleweight (185 lbs max); he's the reigning UFC champ after beating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in August 2025.
  • Past Fights : Started at welterweight (170 lbs) but missed weight badly (178.5 lbs) for UFC 279 in 2022, leading to a catchweight bout.
  • Walk-Around Weight : Around 183-185 lbs on fight posters, showing he's naturally built for middleweight.

Weight Class History

Khamzat burst onto the UFC scene as a welterweight phenom in 2020, smashing opponents with his wrestling dominance. But cutting to 170 lbs proved tricky—he's since settled at middleweight, where his power shines brighter. In 2023, he edged Kamaru Usman at 185 lbs, cementing the shift.

Recent Buzz (March 2026)

Fresh rumors swirl : Just weeks ago, a YouTube clip claimed he's eyeing 93 kg (~205 lbs, light heavyweight), per a former UFC champ. Kamaru Usman speculated on his podcast that Khamzat struggles at 185 lbs—like a bigger Anthony Johnson—and might chase Alex Pereira for a super-fight without defending his title first.

Forums like Reddit echo this: Fans say "weight classes exist for a reason," fearing he'd bully lighter foes if he bulks up. No official move yet—he made weight cleanly for his title win last August.

Weight Class| UFC Limit| Khamzat's Experience
---|---|---
Welterweight| 170 lbs| Early wins, but missed weight in 2022 1
Middleweight| 185 lbs| Current champ, ranked #3 P4P 15
Light Heavy?| 205 lbs| Rumors only—no fights yet 57

TL;DR : Khamzat's locked in as middleweight champ at 185 lbs, but 2026 whispers suggest a jump to light heavy.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.