Khamzat Chimaev is not only content with holding the UFC’s 185-pound title, but also longs for Alex Pereira’s crown. The UFC middleweight champion said this during a recent conversation with Aslanbek Badaev. Chimaev is an undefeated professional MMA fighter, and his title-clinching victory against Dricus du Plessis in August propelled the ‘Borz’ author to one of the most dominant championship victories in mixed martial arts history. at UFC319.
Entering that rarefied aura of two-division UFC champions throughout history is so compelling for so many fighters, which was reflected by the current middleweight kingpin, as Chimaev said:
“If you ask me, of course I would like to fight for the second title. It is no secret that the man who now holds the title at 205 pounds is a very good match for me. Except that I would become reckless if I stood with him… They say he [Pereira] has a lot of power, but I have never been left out in that area. He also fought at 185 and then moved up to 205. So I would like to fight at light heavyweight. But will they give me Nassourdine? [Imavov]De Ridder, or Hernandez, it doesn’t matter to me. Just pay me some good money.”
Khamzat Chimaev details aspects of Sean Strickland’s feud
Khamzat Chimaev has been keeping an eye on Alex Pereira, but has also had a feud with Sean Strickland, who has been training with Pereira in recent times after previously fighting ‘Poatan’ in the UFC cage. The feud between ‘Borz’ and Strickland seems to be building over the years, and Chimaev has pulled back the curtain on that situation a bit.
Strickland and Chimaev previously had training interactions at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, seemingly planting the seeds of animosity at the time. When Strickland was set for a title fight rematch with the aforementioned DDP in February, Chimaev was put on the back burner. Sean Strickland then began detailing aspects of previous training sessions with the current UFC middleweight champion, with Chimaev also giving his perspective.
Khamzat Chimaev gave an account of the situation in Strickland Badaev podcast. Chimaev said he became angry with Strickland during a workout and said Strickland allegedly carried a gun around the gym the day after that incident occurred.
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