Belal Muhammad believes that if Khamzat Chimaev defeats Sean Strickland, he will get a light heavyweight title fight against Paulo Costa. Muhammad used the term "vacant" rather than "interim" when discussing the potential title bout. This suggests he may be anticipating that if current champion Carlos Ulberg is out for an extended period, the belt could become vacant. The post questions whether this scenario is realistic for the 205-pound division. Muhammad's prediction centers on Chimaev's success against Strickland as the trigger for this move.
Belal Muhammad has floated an unconfirmed scenario in which Khamzat Chimaev, should he defeat Sean Strickland, would move up to light heavyweight and challenge Paulo Costa for what Muhammad described specifically as a vacant — not interim — 205-pound title.
The prediction carries an important implication: Muhammad appears to believe current light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg could be sidelined long enough for the UFC to strip the title rather than create an interim belt. That framing has not been officially confirmed by any promotional source, and the entire scenario remains speculative at this stage.
Chimaev, the 32-year-old Allstars Training Center product competing out of the United Arab Emirates, enters any such conversation as the No. 1-ranked middleweight and the No. 10 pound-for-pound fighter on the roster. His record stands at 15-1-0, and his wrestling engine is among the most punishing in the sport — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at 60 percent accuracy. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, a move to light heavyweight would not be physically unreasonable.
Costa, the 35-year-old Brazilian ranked 13th at middleweight, brings elite striking volume to any matchup — 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy — though he has spent his entire career at 185 pounds. His record sits at 16-4-0.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion at 31-7-0, would first need to fall to Chimaev for any of this to become relevant. The 35-year-old American is a high-output pressure fighter who lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute and carries a 76-inch reach into his orthodox stance.
Why it matters
- A Chimaev victory over Strickland would likely trigger significant reshuffling across two weight classes
- Muhammad's use of "vacant" rather than "interim" signals a belief that Ulberg's title reign may be in doubt
- Costa's standing as a ranked middleweight moving to a light heavyweight title bout would be an unconventional path
