Khamzat Chimaev has expressed willingness to move up to light heavyweight to face Alex Pereira. The middleweight contender indicated he would be ready for the challenge against the current light heavyweight champion. Chimaev is known for competing across multiple weight classes and has previously fought at welterweight and middleweight. A potential matchup with Pereira would represent a significant step up in weight for Chimaev. The callout comes as Chimaev prepares for his upcoming bout at UFC 328 against Sean Strickland.
Khamzat Chimaev has publicly expressed his willingness to move up to light heavyweight and take on UFC champion Alex Pereira, adding a marquee name to his list of potential future opponents as he prepares for his next scheduled outing at UFC 328 against Sean Strickland.
Chimaev, 32, carries a 15-1 record and currently sits as the number-one ranked middleweight contender, also checking in at number ten in the pound-for-pound standings. Fighting out of Allstars Training Center under the United Arab Emirates flag, the six-foot-two "Borz" has built his reputation across both welterweight and middleweight, combining relentless grappling — averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — with sharp striking at 60 percent accuracy and 4.04 significant strikes landed per minute. A move to light heavyweight would put him roughly one full division above where he has spent most of his career.
Standing in the other corner of any hypothetical matchup would be Alex Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion out of Brazil. "Poatan" is 38 years old, stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, and carries a 13-4 record. He is one of the sport's most dangerous strikers, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy, though his ground game is rarely a factor.
Why it matters
- Chimaev moving up would represent a jump of roughly one full weight class, pitting his elite wrestling against Pereira's knockout power
- A win over a reigning champion would instantly elevate Chimaev's legacy beyond the middleweight division
- Pereira has shown willingness to take on challengers from outside the top of the light heavyweight rankings, keeping this scenario plausible
- The callout lands while Chimaev is still committed to UFC 328 and a bout with Strickland, meaning any Pereira fight would be a longer-term possibility
