Khamzat Chimaev just gave Conor McGregor a reality check.
Ahead of Chimaev’s middleweight title defense in the main event of UFC 328 this Saturday in Newark, N.J., McGregor inexplicably tweeted that Chimaev and challenger Sean Strickland are competing “with my 185lb title on the line.” McGregor previously held titles at 155 and 145 pounds and has fought as high as 170 pounds in the UFC, but has never competed at middleweight. He has also not been seen in the octagon since July 2021.
Chimaev was asked about the strange comment at UFC 328 media day on Wednesday.
“His belt?” Chimaev said. “He lost his belt 10 years ago, so I don’t know, this guy comes off a little bit drunk or is it Proper something he’s drinking all the time? Come back to normal and work and let’s fight.
“I don’t care, boxing. I told Zuffa Boxing people think I’m just a wrestler, I don’t need to use my just boxing, I’m an MMA fighter. If I go to the boxing, I’m going to show my boxing, too.”
McGregor took part in his lone professional boxing bout in August 2017, when he went 10 rounds with undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. before succumbing to a flurry of punches. The UFC stripped McGregor of his lightweight title in 2018 due to inactivity. He currently awaits an official booking for his comeback fight.
Chimaev is no stranger to changing weight classes, having started his UFC career as a middleweight, then primarily taking bouts at 170 pounds before returning to 185 pounds where he became champion at UFC 319 this past August with a dominant decision win over Dricus du Plessis. He has mentioned the possibility of moving up to light heavyweight on several occasions and is even open to jumping all the way up to heavyweight.
“Of course, for sure,” Chimaev said. “I’ve always been training with heavyweight guys. I’ve trained most of my time with Alexander Gustafsson, Jimi Manuwa, Gokhan Saki from the beginning of my career and I was fighting 170. I trained with them, sparred with them, never been a problem with weight. I like to eat, have fun in the cage.”
As for fighters coming up to middleweight to challenge for the title, Chimaev had high praise for his friend and No. 1 lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan, who he believes could handle Strickland just as easily as he plans to on Saturday night.
“Yeah, of course, he can beat him now,” Chimaev said of Tsarukyan.
