Khamzat Chimaev may already be looking beyond the middleweight division before even making his first title defense.
The undefeated champion is set to headline UFC 328 this weekend against bitter rival Sean Strickland in Newark, New Jersey. But during fight week, Chimaev hinted that Saturday night could potentially mark his final appearance at 185 pounds.
When asked by reporters whether the Strickland fight might be his last middleweight bout, Chimaev gave a humorous but revealing answer.
“I hope so,” Chimaev said. “I like to eat pizza. We will see.”
Khamzat Chimaev Targeting Bigger Fights After UFC 328
While Chimaev remains focused on settling his grudge with Strickland, he made it clear that future plans already include possible moves to light heavyweight — or even heavyweight.
The undefeated Chechen specifically mentioned Alex Pereira as one of the names he’s interested in fighting if “Poatan” returns to 205 pounds following his upcoming interim heavyweight title clash with Ciryl Gane at the White House event in June.
“I just want big fights,” Chimaev explained. “Alex Pereira, if he gonna lose to Ciryl Gane, he gonna come back down. He’s big fight too, big name. If not, I’m gonna go to heavyweight.”
“I need big names, big money,” he added.
Chimaev also suggested he no longer sees many compelling challenges remaining at middleweight. With contenders like Nassourdine Imavov already holding losses to Strickland, the champion questioned whether continuing to defend the belt against the same cycle of contenders would truly add to his legacy.
“Even Sean is not a big thing for me because the guy I beat before him for all five rounds — Dricus du Plessis beat him twice,” Chimaev said. “If I stay here, I beat Sean, and then I beat Nassourdine Imavov — Imavov got beat by Sean — what’s the point? Are we just going around in circles playing Russian Roulette?”