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Khamzat Chimaev of the UFC<\/p>\n
UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev said he is eyeing a weight-class change if he beats rival Sean Strickland at UFC<\/a> 328.<\/p>\n Chimaev has fought exclusively at welterweight and middleweight since joining the UFC in 2020. After struggling to make the 170 lbs welterweight limit, he decided to move up to 185 lbs full-time, and he beat Dricus Du Plessis last year at UFC 319 to become the promotion\u2019s new middleweight champion.<\/p>\n This Saturday, Chimaev battles Strickland, a former training partner-turned-arch-rival<\/a>, in the main event of UFC 328. While other middleweight contenders are waiting in the wings, this may be Chimaev\u2019s only title defense at 185 lbs, as he is already eyeing a move up to 205 lbs in the UFC light heavyweight division.<\/p>\n Khamzat Chimaev Eyeing Move to 205 lbs<\/p>\n Speaking to reporters ahead of UFC 328, Chimaev admitted that this fight with Strickland might be his last outing at 185 lbs. Since Nassourdine Imavov is likely next in line for a title shot, and Strickland already beat him, Chimaev doesn\u2019t feel like there is a challenge left for him in the weight class, citing MMA math as his rationale.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I stay there (at middleweight) and I beat Sean, Imavov was already beat by Sean, so what\u2019s the point? We just go and (play) Russian Roulette? I just want big fights. Alex Pereira, if he loses (at UFC Freedom 250 to Ciryl Gane), he\u2019s going to come down. He\u2019s a big fight, big name. If not, I go to heavyweight, maybe there as well. I need big names, big money. I came here to do some big things, not just stay here and take the easy fights,\u201d Chimaev said.<\/p>\n Khamzat Chimaev sees a 205-pound title fight with Alex Pereira if he loses at #UFCWhiteHouse<\/a> but also teases a future at heavyweight. \ud83d\udc3a <\/p>\n Training Partner Says Khamzat Chimaev Will Dominate Light Heavyweight<\/p>\n Chimaev\u2019s current training partner in Las Vegas, Khalil Rountree Jr., is one of the top-ranked light heavyweights in the UFC. In a recent media availability, Rountree said that the 205 lbs division is screwed if Chimaev moves up to the weight class<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel many different ways (about Chimaev moving up). When I first heard the news, I was a bit bummed out, really. Just to know that a guy like Khamzat would come to the division, and that could be a potential matchup if that happened, it doesn\u2019t make me happy to think about that,\u201d Rountree said.<\/p>\n \u201cTraining with this guy, he\u2019s one of the best in the world. It\u2019s difficult. It\u2019s difficult in all areas, in standup, in grappling. No one gets an easy round with Khamzat. It doesn\u2019t matter what weight class, what size. So, that\u2019s what my initial thoughts were. Like, damn, if he made the move up, we\u2019re all kinda screwed. Yeah, that\u2019s how I look at it.\u201d<\/p>\n All of this rests on what happens at UFC 328. If Chimaev is upset by Strickland, the odds of him moving up to light heavyweight will go down. But if he goes out there and dominates his rival, then a move up to 205 lbs before the end of the year is a very real possibility. And, if we are to believe him, maybe a future move to heavyweight, too.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tAdam Martin<\/a> Adam Martin is a sports journalist with over 15 years of experience. He has a speciality in MMA, while also covering the Big 4 Sports. Adam is currently a contributor to Heavy.com, with previous experience working for The Toronto Star, Sportsnet, theScore, Bookies, BJPenn.com, and MMAOddsbreaker.com. More about Adam Martin<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \t