Khamzat Chimaev is open to chasing more gold at multiple weights, but there is a deciding factor that will determine where he goes first.
Chimaev reached his first mountaintop in the UFC earlier this month, when he headlined the promotion’s first visit to Chicago since pre-pandemic.
In the main event of UFC 319, Chimaev dominated Dricus du Plessis for five rounds to bring the South African’s impressive reign to an end in his third defense.
While ‘Borz’ has been celebrating his title crowning in the days since, it won’t be long before focus turns to his first challenge from a top contender. And beyond just a continued stay on the middleweight throne, Chimaev is not yet done trophy hunting.
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Khamzat Chimaev will chase second UFC title wherever the money is
Chimaev has boldly targeted three-division glory, as he looks to become the first fighter in UFC history to become a triple champion.
Before having that opportunity, the Chechen star first needs to add a second title to his résumé. And there is some uncertainty about which weight that could come at.
After Chimaev’s weight miss before UFC 279 in 2022, many have written off any chance of ‘Borz’ returning to the welterweight. But ‘Borz’ himself has left the door open, naming that and light heavyweight as divisions in which he can still claim gold.
In terms of what belt he will target next, Chimaev said during ESPN’s UFC 319 Post Show that he will go wherever Dana White wants — and wherever the biggest money fight is.
“I don’t care (which weight),” Chimaev said.
Whatever Dana says, we go for that.
“Where is the money, I go for that. I like money more,” he added.
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Islam Makhachev addresses potential Khamzat Chimaev fight
Should Chimaev’s pursuit of ‘champ-champ’ status take him back down to 170 pounds, he could be left standing opposite a face familiar to him.
The newly crowned middleweight king has had a rocky relationship with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team. Things became heated when Chimaev brawled with Nurmagomedov’s cousin, Abubakar, in the crowd at UFC 280 in October 2022.
Things look to have been put to bed in the years since, and Islam Makhachev refused to resurface any Chimaev animosity when asked about a potential fight with him at an RB Sport press conference.
“I’m answering this question here. I don’t want to open the door to any kind of conflict between our people,” Makhachev said.
“Well, we will see. I have a tough fight ahead,” he added.
First things first, Makhachev must reach the welterweight throne by unseating Jack Della Maddalena in their expected fight later this year.