Khamzat Chimaev stated that he would never fight Khalil Rountree if he moves to light heavyweight because he considers Rountree his brother. Chimaev explained his philosophy by saying that some fighters call someone a brother today and fight them tomorrow, but he cannot operate that way and wants to be genuine. He emphasized this position regarding potential matchups if he transitions to the 205-pound division. The statement reflects Chimaev's personal code about competing against teammates or close training partners.
Khamzat Chimaev has made clear that a potential move to light heavyweight would come with at least one name firmly off his list — Khalil Rountree Jr. The middleweight contender stated publicly that he would never fight Rountree, citing their close personal bond and his own code of loyalty.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," holds a 15-1-0 record and sits at number one in the middleweight division, with a pound-for-pound ranking of tenth. The 32-year-old, who trains out of Allstars Training Center and competes under the United Arab Emirates flag, has built his reputation on an aggressive, well-rounded style. He lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate, and his grappling numbers are equally imposing — 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same span.
Rountree, 36, is currently ranked seventh at light heavyweight and carries a 15-7-0 record. The southpaw stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and brings consistent striking pressure, averaging 3.88 significant strikes per minute. He is almost exclusively a striker, posting zero takedowns per 15 minutes and just 0.1 submission attempts in that window.
Chimaev explained that some fighters claim brotherhood with an opponent and step in the cage with them anyway, but that he refuses to operate that way. He wants to be genuine in how he treats those close to him, and Rountree falls firmly in that category regardless of divisional stakes.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the top-ranked middleweight and any move to 205 pounds would immediately shake up the light heavyweight landscape
- Rountree sits at seventh in that division, making him a natural early matchup on paper — one Chimaev has now publicly ruled out
- The statement signals that personal relationships will shape Chimaev's path if he does make the jump, potentially limiting available opponents near the top of the division
