Khamzat Chimaev is planning to maneuver as much as light heavyweight following his defeat to Sean Strickland at UFC 328.
Chimaev suffered the primary defeat of his profession in a five-round war with Strickland on Saturday night.
The 32-year-old also lost his UFC Middleweight belt, but just isn’t planning on getting it back anytime soon.
Following UFC 328, Dana White told his press conference that Chimaev told him straight after the fight he wants to maneuver as much as 205lbs.
Revealing what the 15-1 fighter said, the UFC CEO and president said: “I don’t need to fight [here] again. I would like to maneuver up.
“Ever since Fight Island, he’s gone on a run, he’s undefeated, won the world title. He did all the pieces he’s said he’s going to do. But with the extent of success, and lifestyle, it makes it tough.”
Carlos Ulberg is the reigning champion at light heavyweight, claiming the vacant title in April.
Though he tore his ACL in the method and is anticipated to be out for a substantial time period.
Chimaev concerns
Even after weighing in for his title defence against Strickland, there have been concerns over Chimaev’s condition.
There have been fears he looked depleted after successfully making the 185lb limit.
There was also a slew of conspiracy theories online that Chimaev had not in truth made weight, something that White vehemently hit back at.
“You understand the Latest Jersey State Athletic Commission oversees the weigh-ins, right?” He said.
“Jeremy Stephens missed weight by 4 kilos they usually needed to cut a deal. But for Khamzat they’re just going to let him not make weight?
“Jersey and Latest York are two of the hardest commissions within the country.
“The web is f****** silly, I don’t know what to let you know apart from that… I don’t know [why they used a manual scale instead of a digital one].
“Listen, Monday morning at 9.02 call the Latest Jersey Athletic Commission and ask them about that. I even have nothing to do with any of that stuff.”
Strickland, who regained the middleweight belt, also lent into the theories by claiming his opponent didn’t make weight.
“Show of hands, who thinks he missed weight?” Strickland said when White’s comments were put to him.
“His scale was going ‘ding ding ding ding ding’. He 1,000 per cent missed weight.
“We had a man from my camp watching him on the check scale when he stepped on and his whole camp said ‘f***‘ they usually dragged him up because he was running out of time. He 1,000 per cent missed weight.
“I don’t b**** about it, whatever, be a heavyweight I don’t care. But at the tip of the day he said he might need to move as much as 205lb, and he should, dude.”