New York: Former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev has made his intentions clear about his next Octagon appearance, expressing his desire to face the winner of the proposed title showdown between Sean Strickland and Nassourdine Imavov.
Chimaev is eager to reclaim the middleweight championship after losing his title to Strickland via split decision at UFC 328 in May. Despite the setback, the 32-year-old remains convinced that he should be next in line for a championship opportunity.
In an interview with MMA Junkie, the Chechen-born fighter maintained that he deserved to challenge for the title against whoever emerges victorious from the potential Strickland-Imavov matchup.
“It should be the winner because I’m the No. 1 contender, and I didn’t lose that match. People say I lost the match, but I’m the real champion,” Chimaev said.
His comments underline his determination to regain the championship, while also suggesting that he has little interest in taking another fight before getting an opportunity to reclaim the belt.
Chimaev Takes Aim at Strickland
Chimaev also directed criticism towards Strickland, who has reportedly been waiting for a new UFC contract after raising concerns about his financial terms with the promotion.
Taking a swipe at his former opponent, Chimaev suggested that Strickland was frequently involved in disputes and uncertainty surrounding his fighting future.
“He’s always crying about something, so I’m just being ready. I don’t know what’s going to happen. Maybe the UFC wants me to face the winner of the fight, so I just want to take my belt back very soon. If it happens soon, I’m going to fight soon, as well,” Chimaev added.
The former champion’s remarks indicate that he is prepared to return to competition whenever the UFC finalises his next assignment.
Chimaev Staying Active Outside the UFC
Although he has not competed inside the UFC Octagon since May, Chimaev has continued to remain active through wrestling appearances in Real American Freestyle (RAF).
The wrestling bouts have provided him with an opportunity to stay competitive while awaiting clarity over his MMA future.
However, Chimaev’s primary objective remains unchanged: reclaiming the UFC middleweight championship.
A potential showdown against the winner of Strickland versus Imavov would offer him a direct route back to the title, although the UFC has yet to officially confirm the proposed matchup or Chimaev’s next opponent.
For now, the former champion appears determined to wait for a championship opportunity rather than take a different route back to the top of the middleweight division.
