Jorge Masvidal throws out ‘crazy’ next fight pick for Khamzat Chimaev, Dustin Poirier immediately reacts

Jorge Masvidal’s ‘wildcard’ selection for Khamzat Chimaev’s next opponent sparked a telling response from former UFC star Dustin Poirier.

Khamzat Chimaev tasted the primary defeat of his skilled MMA profession in May during his first title defense of the UFC middleweight championship.

The 32-year-old Russian-Emirati fighter, who won the middleweight title from Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in 2025, lost the belt to Sean Strickland at UFC 328.

Sean Strickland picked up a split-decision victory over Chimaev after their five-round main-event championship fight on the Prudential Center in Latest Jersey.

What did you make of the brawl between Dillon Danis and Khamzat Chimaev after RAF10?

Kurt Angle was horrified, what was your tackle the pair’s predictable antics?

Jorge Masvidal wants Khamzat Chimaev to fight Joe Pyfer and Dustin Poirier singled out a key detail from the UFC pick

Khamzat Chimaev is currently ranked at No 1 within the Meta UFC rankings for middleweight and stays in contention for a rematch against Sean Strickland.

Each Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier were on Paramount+’s ‘Deep Waters’ show and took a more in-depth have a look at the rankings after Dricus Du Plessis’ latest UFC victory.

Throughout the segment, Masvidal turned his attention towards MMA fighter Joe Pyfer, who’s now ranked at No 9 within the Meta UFC middleweight rankings.

The 41-year-old retired MMA star admitted that he would ‘shake things up’ and threw his backing behind the concept of a clash between Joe Pyfer and Chimaev.

“Yeah, I’m going to throw a crazy one [out there],” Masvidal said.

“I need to see Pyfer against Chimaev. See what happens. Skyrocket. Pyfer, my boy Pyfer, up there.

“He has an excellent wrestling background. He’s got good power.”

Responding to Masvidal, fellow retired UFC star Poirier added: “Great power. Great power.”

Following Sean Strickland’s win over Khamzat Chimaev, how would you intend the subsequent steps at middleweight?

Joe Pyfer is open to a Khamzat Chimaev fight and already has a plan in mind if he faced him

Joe Pyfer, who has won 16 of his 19 skilled MMA fights, said that his blueprint to beat ex-middleweight champ Chimaev can be built on stopping his takedowns.

“I feel in the event you’re capable of stop the takedown, you’ve got a very reasonable probability of beating Khamzat,” he told Full Mount Media in April.

“But it surely’s not like he’s not a threat on the feet. Definitely hits hard. He’s definitely got some speed. He’s definitely complete.

“It’s just he’s quite a bit more uncomfortable on the feet if he can’t dictate it, so throw things up the center and make it chaotic.

“He doesn’t want chaos, he wants control, so in the event you could make it chaotic, he’s going to struggle.”

Pyfer has won his last 4 fights within the UFC and his last outing was against Israel Adesanya on the Climate Pledge Arena for UFC Fight Night 271 in March.