Khamzat Chimaev is being pushed toward light heavyweight by the UFC, according to Dricus du Plessis’ coach Morne Visser, who believes a title shot is waiting for him at 205 pounds.
“I believe the UFC is asking him, begging him to go up to light heavy and then he’ll immediately get a title shot,” Visser told Fight Forecast.
Visser has a stake in where Chimaev ends up. Du Plessis lost the middleweight title to Chimaev at UFC 319, and his camp still wants the rematch. Visser has previously said Chimaev “didn’t want to fight” that night.
Chimaev Says The UFC Hasn’t Called
Chimaev’s own account doesn’t match. In a recent interview with Adam Zubayrev, he said he has been asking for a fight without a response. “So far, they haven’t called me, nothing like that yet,” Chimaev said. “I asked them. I want to fight in Abu Dhabi.”
Chimaev lost the middleweight title to Sean Strickland by split decision at UFC 328 in May, and Dana White said afterward that Chimaev told him he wanted to move up. He has since turned back toward middleweight, calling out Strickland and three other UFC stars, and said he expects Nassourdine Imavov to get the next title shot.
He has also set a deadline. “I was trying to get one in October, and now I’m trying for December,” Chimaev said. “If nothing happens in December, I think I’ll take a little break. I have a lot of injuries. I need to get them treated.”
Chimaev Wrestles Gilbert Burns Friday
While he waits on the UFC, Chimaev is staying active on the mats. He meets Gilbert Burns in a catchweight freestyle wrestling match in the co-main event of RAF 13 on Friday at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida, streaming on Fox Nation.
It’s a rematch of their UFC 273 war in April 2022, which Chimaev won by decision. Chimaev arrives off a 94-second pin of Tyron Woodley at RAF Moscow earlier this month.
