'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABfAAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACBAAAQMEAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgEDBAAFBiEHESISAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACBBEAAwEAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDEQAFIjFR/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwCcM1sbPHeIYg5bHwkwn7hIN0JERpHilwPJERD39tqjnhFqanVEnTLadkq61SlUTo9oyo51ip057xjw91NJ9haSjEUjB88Rz//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Khamzat Chimaev has been trying to lock in a fight for quite some time. Although 'Borz' is still without a dancing partner, during a media interaction in the lead-up to UFC 286 UFC president Dana White revealed some titbits about the Chechen's next octagon outing.
As per White, Chimaev's next fight will be at middleweight and not welterweight. Additionally, when 'Borz' finally makes his next walk to the octagon, it'll be to face one of the top three contenders at 185 lbs:
"Yeah, he'll fight at middleweight, and yes he is in a position where he should be fighting top three guys in the world."
Catch Dana White's comments below:
Earlier in December, in Chimaev's Dubai training camp vlog, his coach Andreas Michael had stated that he wanted his pupil's next fight to be for the middleweight title :
“Middleweight [is where I his next to be at]. For the belt, I would like that. That’s an amazing fight [against Alex Pereira]."
Catch Khamzat Chimaev's coach's comments below:
The UFC's decision to move 'Borz' up a weight class might also be an effect of his weight miss debacle at UFC 279, which essentially resulted in much of the main card being subjected to numerous last-minute re-shuffles.
Khamzat Chimaev boats an undefeated record comparison of 12 wins (6 in the UFC). The Chechen has competed at both welterweight and middleweight in the premier promotion and already holds two wins in the 185-pound division, against Gerald Meerschaert and John Phillips.
Khamzat Chimaev's coach explains why his pupil has been less active recently
UFC superstar Khamzat Chimaev's coach Andreas Michael says people see less of 'Borz' these days because he is honing in and waiting for an opportunity for a No.1 contender matchup or a title shot.
During an interview with Submission Radio, the All-Stars head coach explained that when the Chechen was coming up in the UFC, the spectrum of possible opponents was broader as opposed to now, when Chimaev has specific targets in mind:
"It [Chimaev's rise through UFC ranks] happened so fast and now when it's slowing down everyone is like, oh s**t why? why? Hey, like I told you, the spectrum was broad before, but now it's honed down to like a specific thing. That's like the No. 1 contender [spot] or a title shot."
Catch Andreas Michael's comments below:
