Khamzat Chimaev appears to be searching for his next challenge, and the former UFC middleweight champion has made it clear that he is willing to fight just about anyone at the top of the division.
Chimaev suffered the first loss of his professional MMA career earlier this year when Sean Strickland handed him a shocking defeat at UFC 328. The loss also cost “Borz” the middleweight title after he had captured the belt from Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319.
Immediately after the defeat, Chimaev told UFC CEO Dana White that he wanted to move up to the light heavyweight division. The brutal weight cut to 185 pounds appeared to convince him that he had done enough at middleweight.
However, Chimaev eventually changed his mind and began pushing for an immediate rematch with Strickland.
With Nassourdine Imavov also waiting for his opportunity at the 185-pound title, a rematch between Chimaev and Strickland could complicate the division’s title picture. But Chimaev now appears open to taking another fight before getting another shot at the belt.
Khamzat Chimaev took to social media and called on the UFC to book him against one of four top middleweights.
The former champion named Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho as potential opponents.
“I’m ready. Let me know when you are ready,” Chimaev wrote.“Sean, Dricus, Nassourdine, Caio.”
It is a simple message, but it makes Chimaev’s intentions clear. He wants to stay active and is willing to face some of the biggest names at 185 pounds.
Strickland could return later this year after undergoing surgery for an injury he suffered before his fight with Chimaev. Meanwhile, Imavov has been waiting for his opportunity after his most recent victory over Caio Borralho at UFC Paris.
Borralho also remains firmly in the middleweight title picture. The former Dana White’s Contender Series standout has built an impressive résumé with wins over Abus Magomedov, Paul Craig and Jared Cannonier before adding Reinier de Ridder to his list of victories at UFC 324.
For Chimaev, any of those matchups would give him another opportunity to prove that his loss to Strickland was an outlier.
Despite naming three other contenders, Chimaev has not abandoned his desire to run things back with Strickland.
Strickland remains the man who handed Chimaev his first professional defeat and took away his middleweight championship. Naturally, “Borz” wants the opportunity to settle the score.
However, waiting for an immediate rematch could leave Chimaev sitting on the sidelines while the rest of the division moves forward.
Chimaev has already stayed active outside the UFC, competing in freestyle wrestling and picking up a quick victory over Dillon Danis before the event descended into a chaotic brawl. He is also scheduled to face former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in another grappling contest.
