Beneil Dariush believes Khamzat Chimaev could find even greater success if he moves up to light heavyweight, and he has not ruled out the former UFC middleweight champion eventually competing at heavyweight.
Chimaev lost the middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in May after five competitive rounds.
Following the defeat, questions emerged about his future at 185 pounds, particularly after UFC CEO Dana White initially claimed that Chimaev had indicated he was done with the division.
However, Chimaev quickly shifted his focus to securing a rematch with Strickland. With that fight yet to materialize, Dariush believes Chimaev should move to light heavyweight instead of continuing to deal with the challenges of making middleweight.
Speaking to Helen Yee on her YouTube channel, the UFC lightweight veteran explained why he believes the move
would benefit Chimaev.
“I think, obviously, he was complaining about the weight cut. And I think at 205, he would do super well, too. Like, who in the 205 division is going to really give him a hard time?”
Dariush believes Chimaev would not struggle with the physical demands of the division. He also expects the Chechen fighter to perform better without the exhausting process of cutting down to 185 pounds.
“He’s going to be just as big. He’s not going to have an issue with size. He’s going to have better cardio because his weight cut’s not going to be miserable.”
Chimaev has previously spoken about his ambition to become a multi-division champion. After capturing the middleweight title with a dominant victory over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in August 2025, he appeared to be on course to pursue further championship opportunities.
His defeat to Strickland, however, interrupted those plans. Dariush believes Chimaev could still add another belt to his collection if he decides to move up.
“He had the ’85 title, he can get the 205 title, and I know he’s aiming for three belts,” Dariush said.
The veteran went a step further, suggesting that Chimaev could eventually test himself against the UFC’s heavyweight division.
“You know, in the future, he could be a heavyweight. I see him sparring with heavyweights all the time.”
For now, Chimaev’s immediate future remains uncertain. Strickland is reportedly at odds with UFC management over his fight purse, potentially complicating plans for a middleweight title fight against Nassourdine Imavov.
Imavov remains a leading contender for the 185-pound championship, but Chimaev could find himself back in the title conversation if negotiations delay Strickland’s next fight.
