Joe Rogan believes that Khamzat Chimaev's grueling weight cut may have been a key factor in his split-decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328. The middleweight title fight, held at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., saw Chimaev struggle to make weight—arriving last to the scales and sparking controversy over how quickly his 185-pound mark was read.

Chimaev (15-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) started strong but visibly slowed in the second round before finding a second wind. Rogan, speaking on his podcast, called it "an incredible, incredibly close fight," noting that both fighters knew each other from previous training sessions. "They kind of knew what to expect," he said. "But man, what a fight. Both guys just drained the tank, especially in that fifth round. The scorecards reflected that—it was so close."

The loss has sparked debate about Chimaev's future. Immediately after the fight, he told UFC President Dana White he wanted to move up to light heavyweight (205 pounds), but has since reversed course, calling for a rematch against Strickland. Rogan suggests Chimaev's weight issues stem from his original plans to fight at a higher weight class. "He was thinking he was going to fight Jiri Prochazka for 205," Rogan explained. "The fact that he tried to bulk up could have been a factor—he looked gaunt at the scales."

For fighters and fans alike, this fight underscores the delicate balance between cutting weight and maintaining performance—a lesson that resonates whether you're in the Octagon or just gearing up for your next training session in the gym.