Khamzat Chimaev has his eyes fixated on the UFC Welterweight title but he’ll have to make his way up through the elite fighters of this division. He has big plans for his future in the higher weight classes, as he recently called out every big shot from Brock Lesnar to Daniel Cormier.
But he hasn’t abandoned plans to capture gold at 185 pounds either. Chimaev recently claimed that it’ll be even easier for him to beat the undefeated Middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya.
“Izzy, I think it will be more easy for me to smash that guy [than Kamaru Usman],” Chimaev said Wednesday on a dual appearance with Darren Till on The MMA Hour.
“He has zero wrestling. The guy he fought last time. He’s not a wrestler — he took his back. If I take his back, brother, I’ll squeeze his head off. I’ll take his head off. Easy money for me.”
A kickboxing prodigy and one of the most elite striking artist the world has ever seen, Adesanya has a flawless 11-0 record at 185 pounds in the UFC. And the second longest winning streak in UFC middleweight history with four successful title defenses.
On the other hand, Chimaev has won both of his octagon bouts at 185 pounds in dominating performances. However, for now, the Chechen-born fighter awaits a matchup with one-time title challenger Gilbert Burns in a high-stakes Welterweight bout at UFC 273.
Also read: Israel Adesanya Trolls Darren Till for Celebrating With Tom Aspinall at UFC London
Khamzat Chimaev on Conor McGregor getting the title fight before he does
Chimaev understands that the modern world is all about fame. That’s why he won’t be too upset if the UFC opts to give Conor McGregor a Welterweight title shot before him.
Former UFC two-division champion McGregor recently stated he’s focused in a fight against the Welterweight titleholder Kamaru Usman upon his return to UFC this year. He is currently in his recovery since his leg break that he suffered against Poirier at UFC 264.
Although Usman laughed off McGregor’s callout. It undeniably would be the biggest fight of his career, financially speaking; something Dana White didn’t dismiss immediately.
“If he wanna be back, if he need some help then. We’re here,” Chimaev said on his YouTube channel, inviting Conor McGregor to train with him and Darren Till.
“If he wanna fight Usman. I think it maybe can happen because the guy is so famous. They can make money, good money, both. That’s why if they wanna fight, both, I think the UFC wanna make it.”