Khamzat Chimaev won’t be too upset if the UFC opts to give Conor McGregor a welterweight title shot before him.
Former UFC two-division champion McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) recently stated he’s eyeing a clash with 170-pound titleholder Kamaru Usman upon his return to competition this year, an idea that UFC president Dana White didn’t immediately dismiss.
Although Usman (20-1 MMA, 15-0 UFC) laughed off McGregor’s callout, it undeniably would be the biggest fight of his career business-wise, something Chimaev (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) wouldn’t fault Usman for accepting.
“If he wanna be back, if he need some help then, we’re here,” Chimaev said on his YouTube channel. “If he wanna fight Usman, I think it maybe can happen because the guy is so famous. They can make money, good money, both. That’s why if they wanna fight, both, I think the UFC wanna make it.”
Before getting serious consideration for his own crack at gold, Chimaev (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) must first get past Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 on April 9. He fully expects to be next in line for a title shot with a win – unless he’s passed up for McGregor.
Chimaev, who’s developed a well publicized friendship with Darren Till, even offered to help the Irish superstar prepare for the potential fight.
“When I finish Gilbert Burns, I think I am the next for title,” Chimaev added. “But this is the business. Who’s the famous, makes more money, they choose them. I understand that, but we’ll see what’s gonna happen. If he wanna come and train with us, he’s welcome.”
McGregor hasn’t seen actions since his trilogy-fight loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July. “The Notorious” suffered a broken leg in his first-round TKO loss, and has been on the mend since. He recently stated he should be cleared for a return to full sparring in April.
