Kamaru Usman has proposed that if Khamzat Chimaev successfully defends the middleweight title against Strickland, he should move up to fight Magomed Ankalaev for the light heavyweight belt. Usman's scenario accounts for Alex Ulberg potentially being sidelined for 9-12 months due to injury. He suggests this could be either an interim title bout or a vacant championship fight if Ulberg relinquishes the belt. The idea positions Chimaev for a two-division championship run contingent on beating Strickland.
