Khamzat Chimaev says he's ready to fight Alex Pereira at light heavyweight

Khamzat Chimaev has publicly called out UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, declaring he is ready to move up a weight class to face "Poatan" — a bold statement that arrives just ahead of Chimaev's scheduled middleweight clash with Sean Strickland at UFC 328.

Chimaev, who fights out of Allstars Training Center representing the United Arab Emirates, carries a 15-1-0 record and currently sits as the number-one ranked middleweight and tenth on the pound-for-pound list. The 32-year-old stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and has built his reputation on relentless pressure, landing 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 60 percent accuracy while also threatening constantly on the ground with 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion from Brazil, is a different kind of problem entirely. The 38-year-old holds a 13-4-0 record and operates out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness. Standing six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, "Poatan" leads the UFC with an output of 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy — numbers that reflect a knockout artist who has remained active and open to fresh challenges at the top of the 205-pound division.

Why it matters

• A move to light heavyweight would pit Chimaev against a champion who holds a four-inch reach advantage and significant size benefits.
• Chimaev's elite takedown rate of 5.29 per 15 minutes would represent one of the few credible paths around Pereira's elite striking.
• The callout raises the stakes heading into UFC 328 — a win over Strickland would only strengthen Chimaev's case for a super-fight.
• Pereira's willingness to accept challenges from outside the division could make this more than idle talk.