ABU DHABI – Dana White might have other plans, but Khamzat Chimaev isn’t opposed to the idea of changing his mind after Saturday.
UFC CEO White recently said a rematch with former champion Sean Strickland will be the next title defense for middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, who recently defended the belt with a submission of former champ Israel Adesanya.
Du Plessis beat Strickland by unanimous decision in January to win the 185-pound strap. But among the fighters waiting in the wings is Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who on Saturday takes on another former champ, Robert Whittaker (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC), in the UFC 308 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) co-main event at Etihad Arena.
If Chimaev, more than a 2-1 favorite to stay unbeaten against Whittaker, can win impressively, is it possible he could skip past Strickland? Stranger things have happened than upheaval at the top of a UFC title picture after things apparently had been settled.
But Chimaev certainly won’t count on the idea of being next.
“I hope so, but they said that before, as well,” Chimaev said at Wednesday’s UFC 308 media day in Abu Dhabi. “When I beat Gilbert Burns, I didn’t have my chance. After that was (Kamaru) Usman, and ‘if he beats Usman, he’s going to fight for the title.’ I haven’t fought (for the title) yet, so we’ll see.”
One of the things that has been holding Chimaev back in that regard, almost certainly, has been his inactivity due to health issues. He beat Burns in April 2022, but for a September fight with Nate Diaz, he botched his weight cut severely and fought Kevin Holland at middleweight, instead. But then he didn’t fight again for more than a year when he beat Usman, and his fight with Whittaker already was delayed from June.
Chimaev has dealt with lingering COVID-19 issues in the past, to go along with a mysterious illness that took him out of commission over the summer.
He’s apparently done well enough financially to not stress about his lack of activity, and insists having more money isn’t making him less hungry for a title.
“I’m happy with the money. I’m making more money than any champions,” he said before he added: “Money is not changing (me). People will be the same. I’m staying humble as I was before.”
Check out Chimaev’s full media day interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.
