Khamzat Chimaev believes he’s probably two victories away from the opportunity to compete for a UFC world championship.<\/p>\n
Chimaev was the breakout UFC star of summer, 2020. The Chechen-Swede first picked up two wins in the span of 10 days on Fight Island in July, defeating John Phillips by first-round submission and Rhys McKee by first-round TKO, then picked up his third win of the season when he knocked out Gerald Meerschaert at UFC Vegas 11, also in the first round.<\/p>\n
In the wake this rapid fire wins, he’s been hunting for a big name opponent for his next fight. As of yet, he hasn’t found a willing dance partner.<\/p>\n
\u201cI say to Dana White, just give me someone,” Chimaev told Dan Hardy on Fight Island (via MMA Mania). “They say right now \u2018This guy not top 10, not top 5,\u2019 Sometime they say nobody knows this guy. Everybody talk about me, how can you say nobody knows Khamzat? I think everybody\u2019s scared. Everybody.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey ask me always, my manager calls me and says \u2018Want to fight Thompson?\u2019 I say yes. Then they say he don\u2019t want fight,\u201d Chimaev added. \u201cThey say Chris Weidman, I say yes. Chris Weidman don\u2019t want fight. Demian Maia don\u2019t want fight. They say Neil Magny, I say doesn\u2019t matter, don\u2019t ask me. Just give me somebody. 19 December they say okay let\u2019s go, 19 December. Then Darren Till say something, I say come to Abu Dhabi. He say \u2018I have fight in December,\u2019 I also have fight in December. We can fight here and then in December also.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whoever he ends up fighting next, Chimaev believes it’ll only take two more wins before he’s fighting for UFC gold\u2014at either welterweight or middleweight.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think now, two more fights,\u201d Chimaev said. As for which weight class? \u201cI don\u2019t know. It doesn\u2019t matter for me. Both guys, maybe both same day, both fights, we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n