Khamzat Chimaev has already conquered the UFC middleweight division, but he is not content with staying at 185 pounds. The undefeated star has now set his sights on another champion, this time, one who stands 20 pounds heavier.
The UFC middleweight king has not competed since ripping the 185-pound title from Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in August. While contenders such as Sean Strickland and Anthony Hernandez prepare to clash in a title eliminator at UFC Houston on Feb. 21, and Nassourdine Imavov waits in the wings, Khamzat Chimaev appears focused on a far bigger challenge.
On Monday morning, Khamzat Chimaev publicly called out UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, pushing for a rare champion-versus-champion showdown. The 15-0 Russian wants the fight to headline the UFC’s proposed White House event on June 14.
“Let’s go White House,” Chimaev wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.“Don’t worry, I will finish you fast @AlexPereiraUFC.”
Khamzat Chimaev’s bold message immediately stirred conversation across the MMA world, especially with UFC CEO Dana White preparing what could become the most ambitious card in promotional history. The White House event, expected later this year, has already attracted interest from major names such as Conor McGregor, Jon Jones and Kayla Harrison.
White has stated that matchmaking for the card will begin in March or April, allowing fighters adequate time to prepare. Ahead of those plans, Khamzat Chimaev has made it clear that he wants a marquee spot on the card.
Chimaev and Pereira previously flirted with a matchup after Pereira won the middleweight title at UFC 281.
Despite social media teases and brief negotiations, the fight never materialized, and Pereira eventually moved on to the light heavyweight division.
Now, years later, Khamzat Chimaev has revived the idea—this time with even higher stakes.
In a follow-up post, Chimaev urged Pereira’s supporters to encourage their champion to accept the fight.
“All Brazilian fans tell this boy if you’re not scared tell him to fight [laughs],” Chimaev wrote.
The renewed callout comes shortly after Pereira challenged Chimaev to a UFC BJJ matchup, following both men’s recent championship victories. Pereira reclaimed the UFC light heavyweight belt with a knockout win over Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320, while Chimaev delivered a dominant performance against du Plessis to secure the middleweight crown weeks earlier.
Although Chimaev has not formally accepted Pereira’s grappling challenge, he remains eager to return to the Octagon before the year ends. A super fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Alex Pereira would instantly become one of the most anticipated matchups in UFC history.
Rumors continue to swirl that the White House card could feature as many as seven title fights, though that number has faced skepticism from multiple corners. Even so, a champion-versus-champion clash between Pereira and Khamzat Chimaev would make a powerful case as the event’s centerpiece.
If the UFC wants a statement fight for its most ambitious stage yet, Khamzat Chimaev has already made his intentions crystal clear.
