Fans already saw Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev vacate titles before they moved up in weight to win new belts<\/a> this year, and apparently UFC Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev plans to follow suit in 2026. <\/p>\n Khamzat Chimaev Shares Bold Timeline For Light Heavyweight Move<\/p>\n Speaking to ESPN MMA\u2019s Brett Okamoto<\/a>, Chimaev claimed that he only wants to defend his middleweight belt once before moving up to light heavyweight. <\/p>\n READ MORE: UFC legend Henry Cejudo offers hilarious shoutout after losing retirement fight<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThere is [Nassourdine] Imavov, there is [Sean] Strickland, there is [Anthony] Hernandez,\u201d Chimaev explained. \u201cAll of them I see like, big check. Good money. A lot of options. But I wanna for sure, one more fight I\u2019m gonna go one more weight class up. One more fight, and I\u2019ll move up next weight class.\u201d<\/p>\n Dricus Du Plessis Murphy (red gloves) and Khamzat Chimaev (blue gloves) react after their fight during UFC 319 at United Center. | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n A former welterweight, Chimaev made the full-time move to the middleweight division after he famously missed weight ahead of a matchup with Nate Diaz that was supposed to headline UFC 279. \u201cBorz\u201d ended up submitting Kevin Holland in the co-main event instead, and after two more victories he took the middleweight belt from Dricus du Plessis in his most recent outing at UFC 319. <\/p>\n Would A Loss Derail Chimaev’s Double-Champ Plans?<\/p>\n Chimaev has actively discussed the idea of moving up in weight to fight Alex Pereira <\/a>since claiming the middleweight belt, but it\u2019s still a bit of surprise to hear the 31-year-old definitively claim that he\u2019ll be leaving the 185 lbs. division after his next fight. <\/p>\n READ MORE: Incredible main event reportedly set for first UFC Fight Night on Paramount<\/a><\/p>\n As noted by Chimaev himself, the middleweight division does have several names that he could conceivably meet for his first middleweight title defense. The expectation is that he\u2019ll face #2-ranked Nassourdine Imavov next, but former middleweight king Sean Strickland and Anthony Hernandez are also slated to meet in a pivotal matchup that will headline UFC Houston on February 21. <\/p>\n Nassourdine Imavov (red gloves) fights Caio Borralho (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. | Per Haljestam-Imagn Images<\/p>\n It\u2019s possible that Chimaev intends to move up to light heavyweight regardless of whether or not Pereira still holds that division\u2019s title, and \u201cPoatan\u201d has also regularly been making headlines with his desire to move up to heavyweight move to fight Jon Jones<\/a> and\/or try to become the first three-division champion in UFC history. <\/p>\n More MMA Knockout News<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Dana White draws critical conclusion about Henry Cejudo’s UFC 323 retirement<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0MMA fighter rebounds from failed UFC bid with savage face plant finish<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0UFC fan favorite aims to end losing skid against towering KO artist at UFC 325<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Dana White confusingly clarifies position on Tom Aspinall’s UFC 321 eye poke<\/a><\/p>\n Stick with\u00a0MMAKnockout<\/a>\u00a0for more FREE coverage of the UFC and MMA.<\/p>\n Follow MMAKnockout on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>, and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Dricus](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/01kbz9xs5rm7c8szwz2k.jpg\" "\\"Dricus")
<\/p>\n![\"Nassourdine](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/01kbza1s1z7052pr82re.jpg\" "\\"Nassourdine")
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