Khamzat Chimaev tells Dana White he wants to move up to light heavyweight

Khamzat Chimaev made his intentions clear to UFC president Dana White in the immediate aftermath of UFC 328 on May 9, telling him directly that he wants to leave middleweight behind and compete at light heavyweight.

Chimaev, known as "Borz," carries a 15-1 record and enters this crossroads moment as the number-one ranked middleweight and the tenth-ranked fighter in the pound-for-pound standings. The 32-year-old, who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center in Sweden, built his reputation on a suffocating blend of wrestling and striking. He lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 60 percent accuracy, while also averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. His loss at UFC 328 to Sean Strickland, which cost him the middleweight championship, appears to have been the breaking point in his ongoing battle with the division's weight demands.

According to the summary, Chimaev told White plainly, "I want to move up in weight. I don't want to fight in this weight class anymore." White acknowledged the request and described the potential move as interesting, though he noted he had not yet considered specific matchups at 205 pounds.

Why it matters

• Chimaev at light heavyweight would introduce one of the sport's most complete grapplers into a wide-open division
• His departure would shake up the middleweight rankings, where he currently sits at number one
• A six-foot-two frame with a 75-inch reach translates naturally to the heavier weight class
• Weight-cut struggles have clearly become a recurring concern across his recent campaign at middleweight