Coach Andreas Michael says Khamzat Chimaev prefers a UFC middleweight title shot, but can make welterweight as long as he's given time.
Andreas Michael says Khamzat Chimaev makes welterweight as long as he’s given time.
Chimaev missed the welterweight limit by 7.5 pounds in his originally scheduled bout against Nate Diaz at UFC 279. As a result, he was booked against Kevin Holland instead in a 180-pound catchweight fight. Chimaev won by first-round submission.
Like Chimaev (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), his coach Michael prefers a middleweight title shot for him next – but that doesn’t mean he thinks welterweight is unattainable.
“Middleweight, for the belt,” Michael said on Chimaev’s most recent Dubai VLOG episode. “I would like that. That’s an amazing fight, but we can fight at (welterweight). There is no problem. There is no problem at all. It’s just good preparation – good warning for if we’re going to go drop a lot down in weight. Then we need time and it’s done – not these five weeks or four weeks preparation thing because it’s not doable at that time.”
Chimaev wants at least three months to be able to cut down to welterweight, but Michael says “Borz” isn’t walking around too heavy and could make middleweight right away.
“Right now, he’s at 89 kilos (196 pounds), so he can make weight tomorrow,” Michael said. “So it’s no problem at 84 kilos (185) even if everyone thinks that he’s 140 kilos.”
In Episode 1 of his Dubai VLOG, Chimaev said numerous opponents have turned him down and that he’s currently struggling to find someone to fight him.
