UFC prospect Khamzat Chimaev has vowed to beat Conor McGregor in the race to become the first to win three world titles in the promotion.
The top welterweight contender has also picked up quick-fire wins at middleweight, easily finishing former BAMMA champions Rhys McKee and John Phillips before defeating promotional veteran Gerald Meerschaert and earning his ranking by putting away Li Jingliang last October.
And he is now promising to beat UFC legend McGregor to become a three-division world champion. The Irishman declared that he was planning on making history with a title fight against current reigning welterweight title holder Kamaru Usman when he returns to the octagon next year.
And asked by UFC Fight Pass what his ultimate goal in the sport was, he responded: "I want to take three belts. Nobody's done that s***."
In an earlier interview with RT, Chimaev told the news outlet that he is only interested in "becoming the best..
"I don’t want to be just a regular guy who won one belt," he insisted. "I want two or three belts. We’ll see, if I can do it I will do it. We may make our plans, but God has the last word."
Chimaev could be as close as one fight away from earning an opportunity at that first belt; he faces Gilbert Burns next week at UFC 273 in a fight that could get him the No.2 contender spot and place him right behind Leon Edwards in the pecking order. To do that, his famous grappling will need to be on display against jiu-jitsu black belt Burns.
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But he feels that it won't be the challenge many are expecting, and believes he will pick up another easy win. "To be honest, I don’t see a real challenge in him," he continued. "We’ll see. Everything may happen in a fight, but I am confident as usual. I think I will just smash him with my skills and power. I feel that way. He might feel different, but I will go there and do what I did the last time."
However, he understands that one person could stand in his way; McGregor himself. The Irishman is adamant that he return to an immediate opportunity at Kamaru Usman's welterweight world title, which could push Chimaev down the pecking order.
"When I finish Gilbert Burns, I think I am the next for title," Chimaev told fans in a video on his YouTube channel.
"But this is the business. Who is 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 [is] welcome."
