ABU DHABI – Dana White may need different plans, however Khamzat Chimaev isn’t against the concept of adjusting his thoughts after Saturday.
UFC CEO White not too long ago stated a rematch with former champion Sean Strickland would be the subsequent title protection for middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, who not too long ago defended the belt with a submission of former champ Israel Adesanya.
Du Plessis beat Strickland by unanimous choice in January to win the 185-pound strap. However among the many fighters ready within the wings is Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who on Saturday takes on one other former champ, Robert Whittaker (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC), within the UFC 308 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) co-main occasion at Etihad Area.
If Chimaev, greater than a 2-1 favourite to remain unbeaten in opposition to Whittaker, can win impressively, is it potential he may skip previous Strickland? Stranger issues have occurred than upheaval on the high of a UFC title image after issues apparently had been settled.
However Chimaev definitely received’t rely on the concept of being subsequent.
“I hope so, however they stated that earlier than, as effectively,” Chimaev stated at Wednesday’s UFC 308 media day in Abu Dhabi. “When I beat Gilbert Burns, I didn’t have my probability. After that was (Kamaru) Usman, and ‘if he beats Usman, he’s going to combat for the title.’ I haven’t fought (for the title) but, so we’ll see.”
One of many issues that has been holding Chimaev again in that regard, virtually definitely, has been his inactivity as a consequence of well being points. He beat Burns in April 2022, however for a September combat with Nate Diaz, he botched his weight minimize severely and fought Kevin Holland at middleweight, as an alternative. However then he didn’t combat once more for greater than a 12 months when he beat Usman, and his combat with Whittaker already was delayed from June.
Chimaev has handled lingering COVID-19 points previously, to go together with a mysterious sickness that took him out of fee over the summer season.
He’s apparently finished effectively sufficient financially to not stress about his lack of exercise, and insists having extra money isn’t making him much less hungry for a title.
“I’m pleased with the cash. I’m making extra money than any champions,” he stated earlier than he added: “Cash shouldn’t be altering (me). Folks would be the identical. I’m staying humble as I used to be earlier than.”
Try Chimaev’s full media day interview above.
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