Kamaru Usman believes Khamzat Chimaev Outgrows The Division

Despite having yet to defend his newly won title, Khamzat Chimaev has repeatedly targeted UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, raising eyebrows across the MMA world. Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) claimed the middleweight belt with a dominant showing over Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319, but former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman thinks the title win may already be part of a short stay at 185.

Usman, who pushed Chimaev to a majority decision on short notice at UFC 294, shared his theory during an episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside Henry Cejudo.

“For Khamzat Chimaev to continue to call Pereira out, I think Khamzat potentially has outgrown the weight class again,” Usman said. “Now he’s like, ‘Let me go to a new division where I can make the weight and I can capture that.’”

Usman pointed to persistent rumors regarding Chimaev’s walk-around weight as further evidence.

“There’s all types of rumors saying he’s 230 pounds, 225, whatever. Khamzat is a big guy. He’s always been a big guy,” Usman said. “The fact that Khamzat was making 170 is just as ridiculous as Anthony Johnson making 170.”

Usman compared Chimaev’s trajectory to Johnson’s career arc, noting that “Rumble” struggled to maintain lower weight classes before ultimately settling in at 205 pounds.

“Anthony Johnson moved up, fought at 185 maybe once, missed weight, and then settled at 205,” Usman explained. “I think Khamzat might be in that same ballpark, which is potentially why he’s asking for ‘Poatan.’ If you’ve outgrown the weight class, it makes sense. Why kill myself to get down there when I just can’t make the weight anymore?”