Khamzat Chimaev is demanding his a shot at UFC gold.
The 29-year-old, 13-0 in his professional career, has proved to be a riddle too tough to crack for each of his seven UFC opponents to date, including, most recently, a decision win over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at October’s UFC 294. And after Sean Strickland was defeated by Dricus du Plessis at last weekend’s UFC 297 event, and with Israel Adesanya currently on the sidelines, Chimaev has expressed that there is no one but him that is a worthy challenger to the new champ.
The problem is, UFC boss Dana White doesn’t seem to agree — and this is a point of contention for the Chechen-born fighter.
“Who else is going to fight him,” Chimaev said in an interview with ESPN, as noted by MMA Fighting. “Israel is out until 2027. All of these guys fought each other. It’s only me who is undefeated and undisputed, so I don’t know. They promised me after the Usman fight that [I] will for sure fight for the title, and I won that fight. I don’t know what’s going on.
“I heard Dana White said that, ‘I don’t think Khamzat is next for the title,’ that’s the bullsh*t, man.”
Chimaev revealed that he was battling a health ailment, as well as an injured hand, following his win against Usman last year, prompting White to tell the media in Toronto last weekend that he didn’t expect Chimaev would be available to compete at the April card.
“If you promised me something, you have to answer for your words, and I’m the guy who always answers for my words,” Chimaev said, addressing the UFC brass. “I don’t care if it’s some president, or a king, if you give me [your] word, you have to answer for that.
“I will be surprised if that happens — if somebody fights [for the title] next, and not me. We’ll see, I didn’t talk with Dana, and I don’t know what he’s thinking. He knows better than me. In my mind, it should be me. I asked Hunter [Campbell] to let me fight at UFC 300, so we’ll see what they say.
“[I asked him] before [UFC 297]. I was sick before, and they were asking me during that time and [I told my] manager to let me be healthy first. When I felt my health was good, and I was in the gym training, it was the right time. So I will be ready [for UFC 300] if they give me the fight.”
