Khamzat Chimaev might have missed the welterweight limit at UFC 279 by eight pounds, but he’s still gunning for the title. UFC president Dana White, however, has other ideas, pointing out that Khamzat’s weight miss might force him up to the 185-pound middleweight division.
Chimaev recently Tweeted a callout for #2 ranked welterweight Colby Covington, clearly attempting to climb his way to a title shot. Covington has been out of action since defeating Jorge Masivdal via decision at the start of the year, and Masvidal’s subsequent assault on Covington at Papi Steakhouse in Miami.
Khamzat Chimaev Targets Colby Covington, but Dana White’s Not So Sure
Dana White admitted that there’s a “big beef” surrounding Khamzat’s ability to make weight. “There’s obviously 170 and 185 pounds, there was a big beef today at matchmaking whether he can make 170 pounds, whether we should even let him make 170 pounds again.
Those are all the things that we’re kicking around right now. I’m in the middle. What does he want to do? Where does he want to be and what does he want to do? Does he want to make 170 and go for the title at 170 or does he want to go to 185 and go for the title there?”
That was the big debate we had today in the matchmaking meeting. One guy said one thing, one guy said another thing. Then I said, what does he really want? Somebody get in there and figure out what he really wants to do and let’s figure out and let’s make a fight.”
Khamzat Chimaev’s surge through the welterweight division has made him very popular very quickly. The Chechen fighter made his debut at UFC Fight Island in 2020. He turned plenty of heads by breaking the record for the quickest turnaround between UFC wins in the modern era, dispatching John Phillips and Rhys McKee only ten days apart.
Khamzat’s powerful, dominant wrestling and potent finishing ability made him an instant favorite among fight fans watching at home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although Khamzat is currently ranked at #3 in the UFC welterweight division, only three of his 12 professional fights have been at welterweight. Another three took place at catchweight, between welterweight and middleweight, and the rest were all at 185 pounds. Khamzat has struggled to get down to the 170-pound limit in the past, and was forced to stop his weight cut by medical staff ahead of UFC 279.
Do you think Khamzat will be able to continue fighting in the welterweight division, or is he bound for 185-pound glory? Let us know in the comments.
