Welterweight champion Belal Muhammad believes that if Hamzat Chimaev defeats Sean Strickland, he will receive a light heavyweight title shot against Paulo Costa. Muhammad used the term "vacant" rather than "interim" when discussing the potential title fight. This suggests he may believe the belt could become vacant if current champion Carlos Ulberg is sidelined long-term due to injury. The speculation comes amid ongoing discussions about Chimaev's divisional future and potential move to 205 pounds.
Welterweight champion Belal Muhammad has weighed in on Hamzat Chimaev's divisional future, suggesting that a victory over Sean Strickland could land Chimaev a light heavyweight title fight against Paulo Costa — and notably using the word "vacant" rather than "interim" when describing the potential belt on the line.
Muhammad's choice of language implies he believes the light heavyweight championship could become fully vacant if current titleholder Carlos Ulberg is forced out long-term due to injury, rather than a temporary interim situation. The speculation adds a new layer to the ongoing conversation around Chimaev's potential move up to 205 pounds.
Standing in the way of that scenario is Sean Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion. "Tarzan" carries a 31-7-0 record and is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 35 years old. The six-foot-one American out of Xtreme Couture also owns a seventy-six-inch reach and has built his reputation on relentless forward pressure.
Paulo Costa, the man Muhammad identifies as a potential opponent at light heavyweight, holds a 16-4-0 record and lands significant strikes at 6.26 per minute with an impressive fifty-eight percent accuracy — among the higher marks in the sport. The Brazilian, also 35, is currently ranked thirteenth in the middleweight division, making a step up to light heavyweight a notable shift in his own trajectory.
Carlos Ulberg, the champion whose status is at the center of this speculation, owns a 15-1-0 record and sits third in the light heavyweight rankings. The City Kickboxing product out of New Zealand stands six-foot-four with a seventy-seven-inch reach and lands 6.54 significant strikes per minute at fifty-five percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- A Chimaev win over Strickland would dramatically alter the 205-pound title picture
- Muhammad's use of "vacant" signals the light heavyweight belt's status may be more uncertain than officially confirmed
- Costa moving to light heavyweight would shake up both the middleweight and light heavyweight divisional rankings
