Khamzat Chimaev is preparing for his first middleweight title defense this weekend, but the undefeated champion is already talking about leaving the division.
Chimaev headlines UFC 328 against Sean Strickland on Saturday night. The matchup has been fueled by months of tension. Still, Chimaev made it clear this week that his long-term focus may be somewhere else.
When asked if UFC 328 could mark his final appearance at 185 pounds, Chimaev did not dismiss the idea.
“I hope so,” Chimaev told reporters. “I like to eat pizza. We will see.”
Alex Pereira and Heavyweight Ambitions on Chimaev’s Radar
The middleweight champion mentioned moving divisions before, and this week he again pointed toward a potential showdown with Alex Pereira.
Pereira is scheduled to face Ciryl Gane next month at the UFC White House card in a heavyweight matchup. Chimaev believes a loss there could send Pereira back to light heavyweight, opening the door for a high-profile fight.
“I just want big fights,”
“Alex Pereira, if he gonna lose to Ciryl Gane, he gonna come back down“
“He’s big fight too, big name. If not, I’m gonna go to Heavyweight. I need big names, big money.”
The timing could work in Chimaev’s favor. Newly crowned light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg is currently sidelined with a torn ACL, leaving uncertainty near the top of the 205-pound division.
Chimaev Questions Middleweight’s Remaining Challenges
Even with the belt around his waist, Chimaev does not sound convinced there is much left for him at middleweight beyond Saturday’s title defense.
“Even Sean is not a big thing for me because the guy I beat before him for all five rounds — Dricus du Plessis beat him twice.”
Chimaev also questioned the value of continuing through the current contender lineup, specifically mentioning Nassourdine Imavov.
“If I stay here, I beat Sean, and then I beat Nassourdine Imavov — Imavov got beat by Sean — what’s the point?”
Before any move to light heavyweight or heavyweight can happen, Chimaev still has business to handle against Strickland in Newark this weekend.
Read our predictions for that fight here.