Khamzat Chimaev is one of the front-runners to get the next title shot at middleweight and it doesn’t appear that he’s overly concerned about the possibility of fighting the newly crowned champ Dricus du Plessis next, or Sean Strickland for that matter, after watching their fight.
“I expected the fight to be like that,” Chimaev told ESPN MMA. “Nothing special. I think it was like 50/50. It could go on which side. Maybe it’s right. Maybe it’s not. I don’t know. For me, Strickland won that fight. But that was close fight for them both. But nothing special. Nothing making me like, ‘This guy’s somebody else.’ They both have a lot of things I can see where I can finish them.”
“It was a good fight, but at the same time nothing that special,” Chimaev continued. “Just like hard sparring. Some takedowns, and they come up. Nobody tried to finish anyone, and that’s why it’s not anything special with that.”
Chimaev went on to discuss whether he expects to fight for the title next or not.
“Israel (Adesanya) is out, I don’t know when he’s coming back,” Chimaev said. “What did he say, 2027 or something? All these guys fought each other. Only me who is undefeated and undisputed, you know? 13-0. … They promised me after Usman fight, ‘You are for sure going to fight for the title.’ I won that fight. I heard Dana White said, ‘I don’t think Khamzat is next for the title.’ That’s bullsh*t.
“I don’t care if it’s some president or something,” Chimaev said. “If you give your word, you have to answer for that. … I will be surprised if somebody fights for the title next that’s not me.”
