Khamzat Chimaev is eyeing a matchup with Alex Pereira to pursue his goal of achieving a second belt in the UFC. The UFC middleweight champion, Chimaev, is eager for a fight with Pereira, who recently reclaimed the light heavyweight title. Pereira secured a swift victory over Magomed Ankalaev, winning by TKO in just 80 seconds at UFC 320.
Chimaev’s Ambitions in Light Heavyweight Division
At UFC 319, Chimaev won the middleweight title, defeating Dricus du Plessis by decision. Following Pereira’s dominant performance earlier this month, Chimaev took to social media to challenge the light heavyweight champion.
“If you ask me, of course I would love to fight for the second belt,” Chimaev stated during an appearance on the Badaev Podcast. He expressed confidence in his abilities against Pereira, acknowledging the champion’s power but asserting he has not been outmatched in that regard.
Current State of the Middleweight Division
With Chimaev now a titleholder at 185 pounds, the division has become increasingly competitive. Several contenders are eager for a shot at the title, including:
- Nassourdine Imavov, who handed Caio Borralho his first loss in a recent main event.
- Reinier de Ridder, originally scheduled to fight Anthony Hernandez at UFC Vancouver.
Due to Hernandez’s injury, de Ridder will now face Brendan Allen. If de Ridder secures a win, he could be a viable contender for Chimaev’s middleweight title.
Chimaev’s Perspective on Upcoming Fights
While Chimaev’s preference is to challenge Pereira, he is open to defending his middleweight title. He mentioned his willingness to face other contenders like Imavov, de Ridder, or Hernandez, as long as the compensation is satisfactory. “Just pay me some good money,” he emphasized. “If you consider yourself the best, you shouldn’t care who you have to fight.”
As the UFC landscape shifts, fans can look forward to potential showdowns between Chimaev and Pereira, along with other intriguing matchups in the middleweight division.
