Overview
- He told ESPN he will defend the 185-pound title once, targeting a bout after Ramadan in March, then move to 205 pounds.
- The UFC has not booked his first defense, with Nassourdine Imavov widely viewed as the frontrunner; Chimaev says he would accept that fight despite past training ties.
- He continues to call out Alex Pereira for an official UFC fight, accusing the light heavyweight champion of offering only grappling and avoiding the matchup.
- Chimaev frames his plans around financial upside, saying star-name opponents bring larger purses and stronger pay-per-view potential.
- Media note other possibilities at 185 pounds, including the February Sean Strickland vs. Anthony Hernandez winner, but no opponent has been confirmed.