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Khamzat Chimaev has been calling for title shots in multiple weight classes, and middleweight king Alex Pereira believes the surging prospect is afraid to lose his hype, so is therefore running from his own weight division.
History repeated itself when 'Poatan' stepped into combat against Israel Adesanya, with the only difference being the fight taking place inside the UFC’s renowned octagon instead of a kickboxing ring. The Brazilian dealt with early adversity to fight back and earn himself a TKO victory, subsequently capturing 185lb gold.
While discussing Khamzat Chimaev in a recent interview, Alex Pereira claimed that the Swede was calling for a fight against him because he is scared of losing at welterweight, knowing the aura surrounding him will fade.
"If he was up to it, I'd take this fight... A little while ago he talked about fighting at middleweight and also light heavyweight... But in his weight class, he's maybe already the next title challenger... He could do a fight in his own weight class now, but why isn't he? This is my point of view: If he loses in his own weight class, it ends all the noise he's making. If he loses [at his weight], what is he going to say at middleweight and light heavyweight?... He's running from his own weight class because he's the next title challenger."
Talk of a permanent move to middleweight began when Chimaev missed weight by a staggering 7.5 pounds for his scheduled Nate Diaz UFC 279 headliner clash late last year.
'Borz' now finds himself in a tough position. Although he's ready to step back into the octagon, fans are unsure whether that will be at his regular welterweight or his second home at 185lbs.
Check out what Alex Pereira had to say about Khamzat Chimaev in the video below:
Is Khamzat Chimaev next for Alex Pereira?
While it would be hard to deny Khamzat Chimaev a title shot after his sensational start to life in the UFC, it looks like Alex Pereira has his sights set on a different challenger.
Following his win, the Brazilian is keen on giving the former long-reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya his MMA rematch. He has welcomed their fourth fight in combat sports to take place next.
'The Last Stylebender' looks the most likely to be given the shot, and although the 33-year-old hasn't been the most vocal since the loss on November 12, he remains the frontrunner for the shot.
