The beautiful chaos of Khamzat Chimaev's rise means any of the high level matchups in the UFC could happen!
Sep 10, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Khamzat Chimaev (red gloves) fights Kevin Holland (blue gloves) during UFC 279 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Khamzat Chimaev is the guy who recently turned the UFC‘s middleweight division upside down. At UFC 308, he did something that left fight fans scratching their heads in disbelief. He didn’t just beat Robert Whittaker, he made the former champion tap out in devastating fashion.
The win pushed his perfect record to 14-0, and now everyone’s wondering who’s brave enough to step up next. Here, we have compiled a list of potential opponents for ‘Borz.’
Also Read: Israel Adesanya Wants Khamzat Chimaev Next!
Caio Borralho
Many fans are sleeping on Caio Borralho. The Brazilian has quietly put together an impressive 17-1 record and sits at #6 in the rankings. He is fresh off wins over some serious competition and might actually match up well with Chimaev’s style. While it might seem like a step back for Chimaev, Borralho’s recent performances make this an intriguing option.
Winner Of Israel Adesanya And Nassourdine Imavov
Adesanya and Imavov are set to clash in Saudi Arabia in February of 2025. A win for either of them would put them in the talks for title contention. If that is the case, there is no one else who deserves a title eliminator fight than Khamzat Chimaev.
Fans might be looking at a fight between the winner of Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov against Chimaev sometime in the summer or fall of 2025.
Winner Of Dricus Du Plessis And Sean Strickland
There were rumors that Khamzat Chimaev might take over Sean Strickland’s promised title shot against Dricus Du Plessis after his terrific UFC 308 win. However, those rumors were put down after Du Plessis vs. Strickland was officially announced for UFC 312 in February.
But, ‘Borz’ could be lying in wait for the winner of this rematch. His skills have proved that he can hang with the best of them. Even Du Plessis had advocated for fighting him instead of Strickland. And with ‘Tarzan,’ Chimaev shares some real bad blood. This could be a fight that probably would be possible in the summer or fall of 2025.
Alex Pereira
This is a wild card that gets fight fans’ hearts racing. The current light heavyweight champ has a history at middleweight and loves a good challenge. Pereira’s devastating knockout power versus Chimaev’s wrestling dominance would be like playing a high-stakes game of chess with sledgehammers. The weight class situation makes this complicated, but in the world of super fights, anything’s possible.
There were rumors that this fight was about to happen, and these talks gained a foothold after Pereira said that Magomed Ankalaev wasn’t going to be his next opponent.
One more speculation is that Chimaev could move back to welterweight for a fight that could make him an immediate title contender. However, this seems unlikely, given the nasty weight cuts he has been through.
The beautiful chaos of Khamzat Chimaev’s rise means any of these matchups, or even those not mentioned, could happen. One thing is certain: whoever steps into the cage with Chimaev next, they better bring their A-game and a solid backup plan. Because if the Whittaker fight taught fans anything, it’s that ‘Borz’ isn’t just living up to the hype – he’s exceeding it!
(Image Credits: Joe Camporeale – Imagn Images)
mma
I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!
Read more
mma 
