Sean Strickland says Khamzat Chimaev ought to return to welterweight, regardless of his huge weight miss for UFC 279 this previous Saturday.
Chimaev was anticipated to weigh 170 (or 171 with the one-pound allowance) for his combat in opposition to Nate Diaz. Nonetheless, ‘Borz’ stepped on the scales at 178.5, seven-and-a-half kilos over the restrict. Hours after his weight miss, Chimaev obtained a brand new opponent in Kevin Holland, who he fought at a catchweight. He went on to submit the ‘Trailblazer’ by first-round D’arce choke.
Although adamant he can proceed competing at 170, Chimaev was urged to think about a transfer to 185, which Strickland disagrees with. ‘Tarzan’ advised Helen Yee the undefeated upstart is healthier off at welterweight, particularly since he’s a lot nearer to a championship alternative in that weight class.
“It’s a tough one,” mentioned Strickland. “If it wasn’t for my accident, I might nonetheless be at welterweight and I might in all probability have method higher odds of successful a belt at welterweight. So, it’s a kind of bizarre issues the place it’s like, would he take pleasure in life extra at middleweight? F—okay yeah. I’ve cheeseburgers. I’m a cheerful, fats man. Barbecue, man. I’m gonna have a cheeseburger tonight.
“However that being mentioned, at welterweight, life was f—ing depressing,” continued Strickland. “I used to be f—ing operating each night time. However he may have a greater shot at being a champion at welterweight, I’ll inform you that. However I additionally perceive that that reduce is f—ing brutal, and if I didn’t get into a bike accident, I’d in all probability nonetheless be a welterweight.”
If Chimaev returns to welterweight, Strickland needs him to combat somebody with a better rating. That leaves two choices: Colby Covington or Kamaru Usman, and Strickland chooses the previous for Chimaev to share the Octagon with subsequent.
“He must combat a high-ranked man,” mentioned Strickland. “I feel Covington can be an amazing combat. He fought Gilbert Burns, however I feel Covington needs to be his subsequent combat and if he wins, he ought to get a title shot. Palms down. If he beats Covington, title combat.”
A combat between Covington and Chimaev was reportedly being thought-about by UFC president Dana White, who mentioned with a win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 in April, he would ‘like to do Khamzat vs. Colby’ at UFC on ABC 3 in July.
In fact, Chimaev defeated Burns in a ‘Battle of the 12 months’ contender, however his subsequent combat was scheduled in opposition to Diaz — not Covington. ‘Chaos’ has not fought since besting Jorge Masvidal by unanimous choice at UFC 272.
