Undefeated middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev is convinced there’s only one way Alex Pereira can beat him if they meet in the Octagon.
Even though he’s just a few weeks into his reign as middleweight champion, Khamzat Chimaev is already eyeing a second UFC title, and Alex Pereira is firmly in his sights.
Pereira was quick to accept the challenge following Chimaev’s dominant win over Magomed Ankalaev, and the Brazilian seems just as eager for the matchup. The anticipation around this potential fight has been building ever since.
Looking ahead to a possible matchup, Chimaev said he sees only one path for Pereira to hand him his first professional defeat.
Khamzat Chimaev aware of Alex Pereira’s knockout threat
Chimaev has never hidden his ambition to challenge himself at different weight classes, with plans to eventually test himself at light heavyweight.
Having started his career at welterweight before capturing gold at middleweight, Chimaev knows exactly what the biggest threat would be against Pereira: knockout power.
“If you ask me, of course, I would love to fight for the second belt,” Chimaev told Arslanbek Badaev. “It’s not a secret, the guy (Alex Pereira) who has got the belt at 205lbs now is a very good matchup for me — except if I should get reckless standing with him.
“They say he has a lot of power,” Chimaev said of ‘Poatan’. “But I’ve never been edged out in that area. He used to fight at 185 [pounds], too, and then he moved up to 205 [pounds]. So, I would like to fight at light heavyweight.”
UFC CEO Dana White expects Khamzat Chimaev to remain at middleweight
While the UFC has allowed champions to move between divisions in the past, White has since clarified that fighters must now vacate their belts before making a switch.
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Chimaev, coming off his title win over Dricus du Plessis in August, has no shortage of contenders lining up for a shot at him.
White is open to matching him up against several names in the division, including whoever stands out from this weekend’s main event at UFC Vancouver.
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