Here’s a bold statement: Khamzat Chimaev’s recent callouts of Alex Pereira might not be about chasing big paydays—they could be a strategic move because he’s already outgrown the middleweight division. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is Chimaev really eyeing Pereira for the money, or is he quietly planning a weight class jump to avoid the scale struggles he faced at welterweight? Let’s dive in.
Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who’s no stranger to Chimaev’s tactics, shared his theory on his show Pound 4 Pound. Usman suggests that Chimaev’s repeated challenges to Pereira, the current light heavyweight champ, aren’t just about high-profile fights. Instead, he believes Chimaev is facing the same weight-cutting nightmare he did at 170 pounds—a challenge that might force him to move up a division. And this is the part most people miss: Usman thinks Chimaev is playing a long game, not just for himself, but potentially to open doors for other fighters like Nassourdine Imavov.
“For Khamzat to keep calling out Pereira, it feels like he’s outgrown middleweight,” Usman explained. “He’s thinking, ‘Why torture myself cutting weight when I can move up, capture another title, and maybe help someone else rise in the process?’” Rumors swirl about Chimaev’s weight, with some claiming he’s already hovering around 230 pounds. If true, making 185 pounds could be a losing battle.
Chimaev’s rise to the middleweight title after a dominant win over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 was impressive, but his focus on maximizing earnings—targeting popular fighters like Pereira—seems secondary to Usman’s theory. Chimaev’s size has always been a talking point. As Usman put it, “Khamzat making 170 was as absurd as Anthony Johnson doing the same. It’s not sustainable.”
Here’s the controversial twist: Usman hints that Chimaev might be pulling a page from Johnson’s playbook—moving to a weight class where he feels comfortable, not just for himself, but to create opportunities for others. “If Chimaev moves up and takes the light heavyweight title, it clears the way for fighters like Imavov to step into the middleweight spotlight,” Usman added. “It’s like a game of chess—every move has a purpose.”
So, is Chimaev’s callout of Pereira a money grab, a weight-cutting escape, or a calculated move to reshape two divisions? What do you think? Is Usman onto something, or is Chimaev simply chasing the biggest fights? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over.
