Kamaru Usman believes Khamzat Chimaev should fight Magomed Ankalaev for the light heavyweight championship. Usman suggests that if Chimaev wins and defends his middleweight title, then moves up in weight, and with Carlos Ulberg potentially sidelined for nine to twelve months, there could be an interim light heavyweight title fight or Ulberg could vacate. In that scenario, Usman proposes a bout between Chimaev and Ankalaev for the 205-pound belt. The post asks fans if they would support this matchup if Chimaev defeats Sean Strickland.
Kamaru Usman has put forward an unconfirmed proposal that would see Khamzat Chimaev eventually challenge Magomed Ankalaev for the light heavyweight championship, outlining a scenario that depends on several moving parts falling into place.
Chimaev, the number-one ranked middleweight contender, is currently preparing to face Sean Strickland for the 185-pound title. The 32-year-old fighter out of the UAE and Allstars Training Center carries a 15-1 record and has drawn attention for his elite grappling, averaging 5.29 takedowns per fifteen minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 60 percent. Usman's roadmap requires Chimaev to first defeat Strickland, defend the middleweight belt, and then move up a division.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, is 31-7 at 35 years old. The American wrestler-striker out of Xtreme Couture stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the more active offensive fighters in the division.
Usman's proposal also hinges on the light heavyweight picture at 205 pounds. Current number-three ranked contender Carlos Ulberg, a 35-year-old New Zealander from City Kickboxing, is reportedly facing a sideline period of nine to twelve months. With Ulberg potentially unavailable for an extended stretch, Usman suggested either an interim title fight or that Ulberg could vacate, opening the door for Chimaev and Ankalaev to meet for the belt.
Why it matters
- Chimaev at 15-1 is the top-ranked middleweight, making any title run before a weight-class jump a significant storyline
- Ulberg's reported absence creates genuine uncertainty at light heavyweight, where the division lacks clarity at the top
- A potential Chimaev-Ankalaev pairing would pit elite grappling against one of the division's most dangerous strikers and wrestlers
- None of this is confirmed, and the entire scenario requires multiple outcomes to align before it becomes reality
