Khamzat Chimaev indicated he wants to move to light heavyweight after his UFC 328 bout against Sean Strickland. When asked about a potential interim title fight at middleweight, Chimaev expressed hope that Carlos Prates recovers quickly but stated he's not focused on what comes after Strickland. Chimaev called Strickland a strong opponent and good fighter despite the trash talk, saying he's fully concentrated on beating him first. He emphasized he doesn't care who comes next and will see what happens after the Strickland fight. The post suggests Chimaev is looking to move up in weight rather than remain at middleweight.
Khamzat Chimaev has signaled that his time at middleweight may be drawing to a close, suggesting in a recent interview that a move to light heavyweight is on his mind once he gets past Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9.
Chimaev, 30 — correction, 32 — carries a 15-1 record and enters the fight as the number-one ranked middleweight and the tenth-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. The Allstars Training Center product, fighting out of the United Arab Emirates, is one of the sport's most dominant grapplers, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing significant strikes at a 60 percent accuracy rate. He was measured at six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, brings a 31-7 record into the bout and is known for relentless volume striking, averaging 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute with a 76-inch reach. The 35-year-old from the United States trains out of Xtreme Couture and has long been one of the division's most durable and active fighters.
When asked about a potential interim title shot at middleweight, Chimaev acknowledged Carlos Prates and expressed hope for the welterweight contender's quick recovery, but made clear his full attention is on Strickland. He acknowledged the champion as a strong fighter and a legitimate challenge despite the pre-fight verbal exchanges between the two. Chimaev stated plainly that he is not looking beyond this fight and will decide his next move only after it is done.
Why it matters
- A Chimaev victory over the champion could accelerate a division jump, leaving the middleweight title picture in flux.
- The number-one contender publicly deprioritizing a middleweight future adds uncertainty to an already unsettled 185-pound landscape.
- Chimaev's size and grappling output would translate as natural assets at light heavyweight if the move materializes.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
