Three fights to make for UFC's Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev, a highly dominant and popular UFC fighter, has been inactive since last September and is open to fighting any opponent that’ll get him closer to a UFC title shot at either 170 or 185 pounds.  

Since making his UFC debut in July 2020, Chimaev (12-0, 6-0 UFC) has competed in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions, where he has showcased his wrestling, grappling and striking abilities. 

With five finishes in six UFC appearances, he claims that the reason for his inactivity is that no one wants to fight him. 

Chimaev is actively seeking an opponent to fight to extend his undefeated record and potentially earn a shot at a UFC title for the first time. Since his last fight, Chimaev has called out several prominent UFC names, including Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira and Leon Edwards, to name a very select few. 

The 29-year-old made a name for himself during the UFC’s COVID-19-era events held in Abu Dhabi, UAE and currently holds the record for the fastest consecutive wins in modern UFC history, winning two fights in 10 days. 

Assuming he makes a return this summer, here are three opponents that Chimaev should face when he returns to the octagon. 

Kamaru Usman 

If Chimaev were to face former 170-pound champion Usman and win, it would boost his stock tremendously. Usman is widely regarded as one of the greatest welterweight champions in UFC history, having defended the throne five times against top-level talent such as Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns. 

Defeating Usman, an elite MMA star, would bring Chimaev one step closer to a welterweight title opportunity, despite recent weight struggles. It’s worth noting that at UFC 279, Chimaev missed the 170-pound limit by 7.5 pounds. The weight miss caused the cancellation of Chimaev's original main event fight with Nate Diaz, instead facing Kevin Holland. 

Chimaev has been outspoken about his ability to make the 170-pound weight limit and has expressed his eagerness to face Usman. The two fighters teased a potential matchup on Twitter on Thursday. 

Marvin Vettori

If Chimaev were to chase a 185-pound title run, he could gather momentum facing Vettori, a former middleweight title challenger. 

Vettori, who unsuccessfully faced champion Israel Adesanya twice, is a fierce grappler that has faced some of the division's best. Vettori (19-6) has nine submissions on his record and has won seven of his last nine fights. 

The idea of Chimaev testing his grappling skills against Vettori would be a great way to kickstart his pursuit of the 185-pound title. Chimaev, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt, would have the opportunity to showcase his grappling abilities in a potential challenge on the ground. 

Paulo Costa 

Costa, a former 185-pound title challenger, would be a great challenge for Chimaev. The 32-year-old is known for his aggressive fighting style and knockout, winning 11 of his 16 fights by knockout. His resume includes wins over Luke Rockhold, Yoel Romero and Uriah Hall, to name a select few. 

Costa and Chimaev have gone back and forth on social media, with both fighters expressing interest in a potential bout at middleweight. 

With two fighters that embrace physicality, it would be an electric fight between two of the most outgoing UFC fighters on the roster. 

Before Chimaev could challenge for a UFC title, he needs to collect victories over top-ranked contenders at either welterweight or middleweight to further build his already-impressive resume. A fight with Costa would instantly put him in title contention and be a great showcase for the fans.