Belal Muhammad believes that if Hamzat Chimaev defeats Sean Strickland, Chimaev will receive a light heavyweight title fight against Paulo Costa. Belal used the term "vacant" rather than "interim," which may have been an error or could suggest he anticipates Carlos Ulberg being sidelined long-term. The scenario implies a potential title situation at 205 pounds depending on Ulberg's recovery timeline. The post notes this prediction is contingent on Chimaev defeating Strickland first. Details remain limited regarding the specific circumstances that would lead to this matchup.
Welterweight champion Belal Muhammad has floated an unconfirmed scenario in which Hamzat Chimaev would receive a light heavyweight title shot against Paulo Costa — but only if Chimaev first gets past Sean Strickland.
According to the report, Muhammad used the word "vacant" rather than "interim" when describing the potential 205-pound title situation, a distinction that may have been a slip of the tongue or could signal he expects current light heavyweight number-three contender Carlos Ulberg to be sidelined for an extended period. Nothing about this scenario has been officially confirmed by the UFC.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion at 35 years old, carries a 31-7-0 record and is one of the most active strikers in the sport, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. The American trains out of Xtreme Couture and has built his reputation on relentless forward pressure and volume output.
Costa, 35, enters any potential matchup with a 16-4-0 mark and ranks thirteenth in the middleweight division. The Brazilian is one of the more accurate strikers in the UFC, landing at a 58-percent clip while averaging 6.26 significant strikes per minute — numbers that would make a hypothetical collision with Chimaev a striking-heavy affair.
Ulberg, the New Zealand-based City Kickboxing product ranked third at light heavyweight, sits at 15-1-0. The six-foot-four, 35-year-old lands 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55-percent accuracy, and his status appears to be the central variable in whether any title vacancy at 205 pounds materializes.
Why it matters
- Chimaev defeating Strickland would be the first prerequisite for this entire chain of events
- Muhammad's use of "vacant" rather than "interim" raises questions about Ulberg's availability and the light heavyweight title picture
- Costa moving to 205 pounds for a title fight would represent a significant divisional shift for the middleweight contender
- The scenario remains unconfirmed and contingent on multiple outcomes falling into place
