Khamzat Chimaev has been told that he is welcome to try his luck at a second UFC title up at light-heavyweight.
It hasn’t even been two weeks since Chimaev dethroned Dricus Du Plessis in a drab main event at UFC 319 in Chicago. However, fans are already clamouring to see him compete for a second world title, with Magomed Ankalaev a more likely option than a move back down.
Both champions at light-heavyweight and welterweight have their own respective title fights coming up. Meanwhile, Chimaev seems keen to compete more actively as champion and has even pushed for a return in October at UFC 321.
Magomed Ankalaev sends message to Khamzat Chimaev as super-fight beckons
Magomed Ankalaev has been on an impressive run of results after losing his UFC debut in a stunning submission defeat to Paul Craig. He dethroned Alex Pereira earlier this year with a five round decision, and will rematch him at UFC 320 in October.
However, he has yet to face an opponent quite like Khamzat Chimaev who can pressure and defend the takedown at a top level. In fact, both men are so similar stylistically that it would be seen as a potential super-fight.
“I’m still in this division,” Ankalaev told Sport24Ru in an interview translated by Championship Rounds. “If someone wants to move up and test my weight class, I always say ‘Welcome’. If [Chimaev] moves up, he moves up. No problem.”
Khamzat Chimaev has many options for his return to the UFC
Even after just a few days, Chimaev has already emerged as one of the most intriguing stories going forward in the UFC. His utter domination of Du Plessis – who had seemed unbeatable – opens him up for multiple options across three different weight classes.
Chimaev has always claimed to want to be a three-weight world champion. That could see him head back down to welterweight, which he twice missed, in order to face the winner of Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev.
Otherwise, there are a slew of opponents waiting atop the middleweight division. This is not to mention the potential of going up in weight to fight fellow grappler Ankalaev for his belt.