Khamzat Chimaev had a quick and pointed response when asked at UFC 328 media day about Conor McGregor’s since-deleted post claiming the middleweight championship being contested on Saturday was his title.
McGregor had posted on X that Chimaev and Strickland were competing with “my 185lb title on the line,” despite never having competed at middleweight and being absent from the Octagon since July 2021. Chimaev was shown the comment and offered an assessment that covered both McGregor’s claim and his current lifestyle.
“His belt? He lost his belt 10 years ago, so I don’t know, this guy comes off a little bit drunk or is it Proper something he’s drinking all the time? Come back to normal and work and let’s fight. I don’t care, boxing. I told Zuffa Boxing people think I’m just a wrestler, I don’t need to use my just boxing, I’m an MMA fighter. If I go to the boxing, I’m going to show my boxing, too.”
McGregor was stripped of his lightweight title in 2018 due to inactivity following his professional boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in August 2017. He awaits an official booking for his return, with a lightweight matchup against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 the most heavily discussed option.
Chimaev also addressed the possibility of his own future weight class moves when asked about challenging himself at higher divisions. He described a training history that has always included heavyweights and said he has never found the size step to be an issue.
“Of course, for sure. I’ve always been training with heavyweight guys. I’ve trained most of my time with Alexander Gustafsson, Jimi Manuwa, Gokhan Saki from the beginning of my career and I was fighting 170. I trained with them, sparred with them, never been a problem with weight. I like to eat, have fun in the cage.”
He also offered an unprompted endorsement of his friend Arman Tsarukyan as someone capable of beating Strickland, should the lightweight contender ever move up to middleweight.
“Yeah, of course, he can beat him now.”
UFC 328 takes place Saturday, May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.