TLDR
- Khamzat Chimaev won UFC Middleweight Championship in August 2025 but hasn’t fought since
- Chimaev wants superfight with Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira instead of defending title
- Many believe Nassourdine Imavov is rightful No. 1 contender but Chimaev says he likes Imavov and doesn’t want to fight him
- Sean Strickland claims Chimaev prefers attention over competing and will only fight when forced
- Chimaev’s coach suggests Pereira should move to heavyweight rather than face Chimaev at middleweight
Sources: Bloody Elbow | BJPenn
UFC Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev faces growing criticism over his inactivity and pursuit of a superfight with Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira. The controversy has sparked debate about whether both fighters are avoiding difficult matchups.
Chimaev won the middleweight title in August 2025 with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Dricus du Plessis. He controlled du Plessis for nearly 22 minutes during the fight, showcasing his elite grappling skills.
Since winning the championship six months ago, Chimaev has not stepped inside the Octagon. His inactivity has drawn criticism from fighters and fans alike.
Chimaev Pushes for Pereira Superfight
Instead of defending his title against the top contender, Chimaev has expressed strong interest in moving up to challenge Pereira. Many in the MMA community believe Nassourdine Imavov is the rightful No. 1 contender at middleweight.
Chimaev has stated publicly that he likes Imavov and would rather not face him. This preference for a superfight over a mandatory title defense has raised questions about his commitment to the division.
Chimaev’s coach has entered the conversation, suggesting that Pereira should consider moving to heavyweight rather than facing Chimaev at middleweight. The coach’s comments have been interpreted by some as an attempt to pressure Pereira into accepting the fight.
Sean Strickland, a former middleweight champion and current top contender, has been vocal about his frustration with the situation. He questioned Chimaev’s various injury claims and suggested the champion enjoys attention more than actual competition.
Strickland Questions Champion’s Motivation
“I think whenever the Chechen warlord says, ‘Alright, it’s time for you to go represent us,’ I think he’ll be forced to fight,” Strickland said in a recent interview. “I don’t think he likes fighting. I mean, fighting sucks. It’s scary, it’s hard, but I don’t think he’s a natural fighter.”
Strickland added that Chimaev is “a natural grappler, maybe,” implying the champion is not comfortable in all aspects of mixed martial arts. He stopped short of predicting Chimaev would vacate the title but believes outside forces will eventually push him to compete.
The criticism extends to Pereira as well, with some suggesting the light heavyweight champion should accept the challenge if he wants to cement his legacy. Others argue that Pereira has no obligation to move down in weight to accommodate an inactive champion.
Pereira currently holds the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship and has not publicly committed to fighting Chimaev. The potential superfight would require either Pereira dropping to middleweight or Chimaev moving up to light heavyweight.
Strickland is scheduled to face Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston on Saturday. He hopes a victory will put him back in title contention, though it remains unclear when Chimaev might defend his championship.
The UFC has not announced any plans to strip Chimaev of his title or force a mandatory defense against Imavov. Chimaev won the middleweight belt with nearly 22 minutes of control time against du Plessis in their August 2025 bout.
