Khamzat Chimaev recently revealed that he is plotting a move to the light heavyweight division. After almost a year away he will return to fight Paulo Costa at UFC 294, but has expressed interest in fighting across three divisions.
Chimaev has spent his career fighting between both the welterweight and middleweight divisions. In typical ‘Borz’ fashion, he is claiming once again that he is ready for anyone, anytime, any weight class.
Khamzat Chimaev At Light Heavyweight
When speaking with TNT sports reporter Caroline Pearce at UFC London, Chimaev said: “I fight in all divisions. For me it doesn’t matter. I asked Dana White when somebody dropped out, I asked to fight with Glover (Teixeira) for the title [at light heavyweight].”
“I asked if somebody gets injured if I can fight for the title this way,” he continued. It will come, all my titles will come soon. I’m ready for all divisions, it doesn’t matter for me.”
This isn’t the first time that the UFC star has talked about fighting at 205 pounds. In an interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto back in 2021, he said that he could go to light heavyweight without any issues. “There’s two weight classes waiting for me – 84 (kg), 77 (kg), I can go fight at 93 kilos,” he said.
He added that he thinks he can beat Jan Blachowicz, but for now he has to get past Costa in Abu Dhabi in a middleweight bout. Chimaev has finished all but one of his opponents as a professional, including Kevin Holland in his most recent fight. It took him less than half a round to finish the fight via D’Arce choke, but that was back in September 2022.
Fans have been clamouring for the return of the dominant force that is Chimaev, and they will finally get their wish at UFC 294 in October. Will we see ‘Borz’ make the jump up to light heavyweight after this, or will he set his sights on a title fight at 185 if he wins?
At this point in time it is almost impossible to tell what Khamzat Chimaev’s next move will be.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
