Khamzat Chimaev’s aura of invincibility has taken a serious hit, and according to former lightweight great Dustin Poirier, the undefeated star’s days of mental dominance are over.

At UFC 328, Chimaev suffered the first loss of his career—a razor-thin split decision defeat to Sean Strickland that cost him the middleweight belt. Excuses have poured in: a botched weight cut, over-training, you name it. But for Poirier, the real damage goes deeper.

“The problem for Khamzat is he likes to be that guy who can intimidate you,” Poirier said on the UFC’s Deep Waters podcast. “And the fact that Sean wasn’t intimidated? I think he fought Sean’s fight.”

What stood out to Poirier wasn’t just the loss—it was the shift in Chimaev’s entire persona. The menacing “I kill everybody” energy that built his mystique seemed to vanish. In its place was a fighter who, between rounds, was dapping it up with Strickland like old friends.

“I thought the back and forth was real,” Poirier added. “But his whole aura took a hit this week. Every round, dapping it up like we’re besties and putting the belt on him? Come on, man. That guy who was like, ‘Smash, smash, smash’? That’s not the guy we saw on Saturday night.”

For any fighter, that mental edge is everything. And now that Chimaev has shown he’s human—flaws and all—Poirier believes the intimidation factor is gone for good. “Whoever he gets matched up with next, it’s going to be tough for him to intimidate because his aura took a hit.”

So what’s next for Chimaev? Reports are split: a rematch with Strickland at middleweight, or a move up to light heavyweight to avoid the brutal weight cut that drained his gas tank. Given how much he struggled at 185 pounds, a step up might be the smart play. But no matter the weight class, the biggest battle ahead might be rebuilding the aura that once made him the most feared man in the division.