Khamzat Chimaev says nobody is secure throughout two weight courses amid his pursuit of gold
Khamzat Chimaev has but to seek out his equal within the UFC cage and seems to have prolonged out challenges to fighters in two separate weight courses because the Chechen-born star plots his subsequent transfer in his bid to turn into a world champion.
Chimaev lately made mild work of American fighter Kevin Holland in a unexpectedly organized battle because of him dramatically lacking weight forward of a proposed welterweight primary occasion with UFC icon Nate Diaz earlier this month.
Nevertheless, his error on the weighing scales has led to hypothesis that Chimaev’s time within the welterweight division could be coming to an finish if he continues to wrestle to make 170lbs weight restrict.
Chimaev, although, has vital expertise at middleweight, and even made his debut for the UFC within the 185lbs ranks in opposition to Welsh brawler John Phillips in Abu Dhabi a few summers in the past – and judging by his newest blast on social media, it’s a division he feels very a lot at dwelling in.
1 eight 5 👊🏼💥 pic.twitter.com/urOK6BPayG
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) September 23, 2022
The Chechen star had seemed to be on a transparent path to a welterweight title shot within the UFC however this has been sophisticated by each his incapacity to make weight this month, in addition to Leon Edwards’ underdog win in opposition to former champion Kamaru Usman – a battle which is able to probably result in a trilogy bout between the 2 with scores at present tied at one apiece.
Nevertheless, any transfer into the higher echelon of the middleweight fold will even current its personal challenges – not least of which is the champion, Israel Adesanya, who stays undefeated on the weight class all through his profession.
Learn extra
UFC coach admits ‘fear’ throughout Chechen star’s weight-cut woes
However one potential entry level to the middleweight class may very well be the Brazilian former title challenger Paulo Costa, the person who turned embroiled in a heated confrontation with Chimaev on the UFC Efficiency Institute in Las Vegas earlier this month.
Costa has since taken credit score, he stated in an interview with MMA insider Ariel Helwani, for being the rationale for Chimaev’s struggles on the size, insisting that ’Borz’ turned so distracted by their tense trade that he misplaced all focus forward of his scheduled battle with Diaz.
In fact, one other potential possibility for Chimaev can be a high contender bout at welterweight in opposition to UFC firebrand Colby Covington; one of many solely fighters on the roster presumed to have the mandatory grappling chops to compete with Chimaev on the mat.
However no matter his subsequent transfer seems to be, and whether or not it comes at 170lbs or 185lbs, Chimaev has made one factor clear: nobody is secure on his path to the gold.
