UFC fans aren’t buying what Khamzat Chimaev is selling ahead of his showdown with Dricus du Plessis.
UFC middleweight Khamzat Chimaev‘s long-awaited shot at a world title is just over a week away as he prepares to face Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319. After defeating all of his previous opponents in his MMA career, Chimaev faces his toughest test against one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
Before making the full-time move to middleweight, Chimaev fought at 170 and 185 lbs in the early stages of his UFC tenure. Chimaev’s willingness to fight at multiple weight classes led to a high activity rate as he became a star in the promotion.
But after Chimaev’s disastrous weight miss ahead of his fight with Nate Diaz at UFC 279, he was forced to move to middleweight for the foreseeable future. Three years later, Chimaev is revisiting the idea of competing at a lower weight class.
Khamzat Chimaev plots moves to light heavyweight, welterweight after UFC 319
Former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub raised eyebrows when he claimed that Chimaev could fight as high as heavyweight before he hangs up the gloves. As Chimaev prepares for UFC 319, he’s already thinking about what could be next following a title win.
In a recent interview with ESPN‘s Brett Okamoto, Chimaev plotted a pursuit to become a three-division champion after UFC 319.
“My new coach said, ‘Give me a couple of months and we’re going to make [welterweight],” Chimaev said.
“[Jack Della Maddalena] would be a good fight for me. Go down, fight him, take the belt there, and then there’s Ankalaev, and Alex Pereira, I can fight for that [light heavyweight] belt.”
Chimaev was then pressed about why he’d entertain returning to welterweight after his UFC 279 weight cut debacle.
“It’s hard but if you can do it, why not?” Chimaev answered.
“Everything is hard. To get the big things are not easy, you have to work for that.”
In fairness, Chimaev has only missed weight once in his eight-fight UFC stint, although his previous health issues have left some uneasy about his fighting future.
UFC fans scoff at Khamzat Chimaev’s claims about a welterweight return after UFC 319
After Chimaev’s welterweight tease went viral, fans weren’t having it on social media.
“I don’t trust Khamzat cutting weight,” one fan wrote on X.
“He’s not active enough to be champ of 3 divisions, let alone 1,” another said.
“That’s the funniest s— I’ve ever heard.”
“Wrong direction.”
“Topuria has a better chance.”
“He won’t even beat DDP.”
“Dana could introduce unlimited weight classes and this m——– would still miss it.”
“He couldn’t make welterweight when he was in welterweight lmao.”
“Last time he tried to make welterweight, he got sick. Forget it. Too big for welterweight.”
“He’s got a better chance at heavyweight than welterweight at this point.”
Chimaev was briefly linked to a potential fight with Alex Pereira before fight talks stalled ahead of UFC 283 in Brazil. Pereira went on to rematch Israel Adesanya at UFC 287 in his lone middleweight title defense, losing by knockout.
Just months ago, Chimaev trolled Pereira on social media in reminding the former UFC light heavyweight champ about his devastating knockout defeat. Pereira will rematch Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320 in October.
