Khamzat Chimaev gives major hint on UFC future as he reveals talks with ‘legend’ Jon Jones

Khamzat Chimaev has a clear plan for his future in the UFC.

The UFC middleweight champion wants just one more fight in his current weight class before moving up to light heavyweight with Alex Pereira in his line of sight.

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‘Borz’ also wants to link up with former two-division UFC champion Jon Jones, who shared a friendly wrestling exchange with Chimaev in Chechnya last month as he prepares to sign an ambassador deal with Russia.

Chimaev, who moved up in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings this week, is 15-0 in his career so far and became the champion at 185lbs by dominating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in August.

He entered the UFC in July 2020 as a middleweight, but has also fought at welterweight in Dana White‘s promotion before defeating Kamaru Usman, Robert Whittaker, and du Plessis to rule the 185lbs division.

Even as a middleweight, Chimaev has always been naturally big for his division, having struggled on more than one occasion to cut weight.

Speaking to ESPN MMA, ‘Borz’ hinted that this will no longer be an issue once he defends his middleweight belt.

Khamzat Chimaev: I’ll have one more fight before moving up to light heavyweight

“I’m pushing for [Pereira], because [the UFC] are going to pay good for that,” Chimaev explained when asked who he wants to fight next.

“But in my weight class, whoever, there is [Nassourdine] Imavov, there is [Sean] Strickland, there is [Anthony] Hernandez, whoever.

“All of them, I see a big check, [and] good money.”

The UAE-based fighter added: “There are a lot of options.

“But I want to [have], for sure, one more fight, [then] I’m going to go one more weight class up.

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“One more fight and I want to go up next weight class.”

The UFC is reportedly not keen on Chimaev making a move up in weight class, just like we’ve seen from other champions such as Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev in the last year.

Topuria and Makhachev both became two-division champions after jumping up to lightweight and welterweight, respectively, and now Chimaev wants to do the same.

He has been going back and forth with Pereira ever since the Brazilian reclaimed his throne at light heavyweight by knocking out Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320.

Imavov is the current favourite to fight Chimaev next, having cemented his status as the No. 2-ranked middleweight by outpointing Caio Borralho at UFC Paris in September.

Strickland and Hernandez are booked to face one another on February 21 at UFC Houston, so the winner of that fight will likely be next in line for a title shot.

Chimaev wants to train with Jon Jones as he eyes Alex Pereira fight

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Chimaev said he doesn’t want to fight Imavov because of their familiarity with one another, but admitted he would never say no if that’s what the UFC proposed.

An ideal world for ‘Borz’ would see him triumph in his first UFC middleweight title defence before fighting someone like Pereira and linking up with Jones.

“Jon Jones is a legend. I hope one day I can train with him,” Chimaev told ESPN MMA.

“We [have] spoke about that. Maybe I [can] come to the US and do some training with him.”

Jones has also called out Pereira in the last two months as he prepares for a big return at UFC White House.

Pereira has teased the idea of fighting Jones several times, as the Brazilian fan-favourite also wants to move up a division to fight at heavyweight.

Chimaev is currently dealing with a leg injury and is not expected to be fit again until late March, when Ramadan concludes.

UFC CEO White undoubtedly faces a conundrum when determining the future of his biggest stars.