UFC president Dana White has confirmed that Khamzat Chimaev is making a weight class change following his fight at UFC 328.
Chimaev lost the UFC middleweight title in the main event of UFC 328 when he lost a split decision to rival Sean Strickland. It was a phenomenal fight that went the full five rounds, but in the end, it was Strickland who got his hand raised by split decision, leaving Chimaev to ponder his next move.
Dana White Confirms Khamzat Chimaev Changing Divisions
Following UFC 328, White spoke to reporters and answered several questions about the event. One of the questions was about where Chimaev goes from here, and if he would get a rematch with Strickland after a very close title fight.
According to White, Chimaev spoke to him immediately following the loss to Strickland, and the Russian told him that he is moving up to light heavyweight for his next fight.
The weight cut for Chimaev on Friday looked to be a particularly brutal one, as he struggled to make the 185 lbs middleweight title fight limit. He was the last fighter to step onto the scale, and he barely made the weight. But he did make it, and ended up getting to the fight, though he lost a split decision to Strickland and dropped his belt in the process.
Who Could Khamzat Chimaev Fight at UFC 328?
Now that he is moving up to light heavyweight, it will be interesting to see who Chimaev fights in his debut in his new weight class. According to White, Chimaev won’t get an immediate title shot, so that can be ruled out. But he will surely get a huge fight since he is one of the biggest names in the sport.
Looking at the UFC light heavyweight rankings, you would think that Chimaev will get someone in the top 15 in his 205 lbs debut. Some of the fighters who could be good opponents for Chimaev are Jiri Prochazka, Magomed Ankalev, Paulo Costa, Jamahal Hill, Dominick Reyes, and Volkan Oezdemir. These are all ranked fighters in the weight class who do not currently have opponents matched up against them, so they could all theoretically be Chimaev’s first foe at 205 lbs.
Should Chimaev pick up one or two big wins at 205 lbs, he will be right there for a title shot against the new UFC light heavyweight champion, Carlos Ulberg, who beat Prochazka at UFC 327 last month to claim the vacant belt. Ulberg, unfortunately, tore his ACL and is out for the rest of the year, so he won’t be fighting anytime soon. Still, there are plenty of interesting fights for Chimaev in the meantime, and if he wins one or two of these bouts, he will be right there in line for a title shot at 205 lbs.
Chimaev may have lost the middleweight belt tonight against Strickland, but don’t completely write him off yet, as he’s still one of the best fighters in the world, and he might just look great when he changes weight classes and moves up to 205 lbs.
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