Khamzat Chimaev scoffs at Islam Makhachev’s move up to middleweight—too ambitious: “I f*cking care. I’m the king here!”

In the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), fighters moving between weight classes to seek greater challenges and titles is nothing new. Recently, Islam Makhachev, the reigning UFC lightweight champion, has hinted at his desire to move up in weight to test himself against bigger opponents. His ambition has sparked significant discussions among fans and fighters alike, including one of the top-ranked middleweight contenders, Khamzat Chimaev.

Chimaev, known for his dominant performances in both welterweight and middleweight divisions, had a strong reaction to Makhachev’s potential move up. While he acknowledged Makhachev’s skills and accomplishments, he also pointed out the challenges and limitations of making such a drastic jump in weight classes.

Could Islam Makhachev realistically challenge for a middleweight title? What does Khamzat Chimaev think about it? And what does UFC’s history say about fighters moving up multiple divisions? Let’s break it all down.

Islam Makhachev’s Ambition to Move Up in Weight

Islam Makhachev has been nothing short of dominant in the lightweight division (155 lbs). As the protégé of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev has carried on his mentor’s legacy, defending his lightweight title four times and solidifying his reputation as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Recently, Makhachev expressed interest in moving up to welterweight (170 lbs) and even middleweight (185 lbs), making him one of the few fighters in UFC history to consider jumping multiple divisions in search of gold.

In an interview, Makhachev humorously suggested that he might need to follow a “Daniel Cormier-style diet” to gain enough weight to compete at 185 lbs. However, jokes aside, he is serious about testing himself against larger opponents, believing his elite grappling, wrestling, and striking could translate well across different weight classes.

Khamzat Chimaev’s Reaction: “I’m the King at 185”

Khamzat Chimaev, who has built a reputation for his aggressive fighting style and unparalleled dominance, weighed in on the discussion regarding Makhachev’s potential jump to middleweight.

“If [Islam] wants to move up to middleweight, then go ahead and do it,” Chimaev said in a recent interview. “Whether it’s Dricus Du Plessis or someone else, I don’t care. Islam can fight anyone because of his skills.”

However, Chimaev was quick to add a reality check:

“I also want to fight anybody—I want to fight for the belt. But if Islam wants to move up, he should first try 170 lbs before even thinking about 185. I don’t think the UFC will let him jump two weight classes like that. And at 185? I’m the king here.”

Chimaev’s response was a mix of respect and a clear warning. While acknowledging Makhachev’s elite skills, he pointed out that moving up to middleweight without first testing welterweight is a significant challenge.

Chimaev’s Claim as the “King of 185”

Chimaev’s confidence is not without merit. The Chechen-born fighter has been undefeated in his MMA career, with victories over some of the biggest names in both welterweight and middleweight.

• His dominant win over Kevin Holland at UFC 279 showcased his ability to overwhelm opponents with relentless wrestling and ground control.
• He followed that up with an impressive victory over former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa, proving he can compete with the best at 185 lbs.

For Chimaev, the middleweight division is his territory, and he isn’t ready to let anyone, even a champion like Islam Makhachev, invade it without a fight.

The Challenges of Moving Up in Weight Classes

While Islam Makhachev has been dominant at 155 lbs, making a jump to 185 lbs is a completely different challenge. Here’s why:

1. Size and Strength Disadvantage

• Fighters in the middleweight division are naturally bigger, stronger, and more powerful.
• Islam Makhachev, even if he gains weight, may struggle against fighters who naturally walk around at 200+ lbs.
• Grappling with middleweights like Chimaev or Du Plessis will be far different from facing lightweights or even welterweights.

2. Speed vs. Power Trade-off

• As fighters move up in weight, they often lose some of their speed and agility.
• Makhachev’s elite wrestling and striking have been highly effective at 155 lbs because of his speed and technique.
• Against bigger and stronger fighters, maintaining that level of speed could be a challenge.

3. UFC’s Approval and Logistical Issues

• The UFC rarely allows fighters to skip an entire weight class.
• If Makhachev truly wants to move up, welterweight (170 lbs) should be the next logical step.
• Even Alexander Volkanovski, one of the UFC’s most dominant champions, had to gradually test himself in higher weight classes before securing a title shot.

What Does UFC History Say About Fighters Moving Up?

There have been a few legendary fighters who successfully moved up weight classes, but it’s always been a carefully calculated decision:

• Georges St-Pierre (GSP): The former welterweight champion moved up to middleweight and won the title, but he spent months preparing his body for the transition.
• Daniel Cormier: The former light heavyweight champion moved up to heavyweight, but he was already naturally suited for a bigger division.
• Conor McGregor: Jumped from featherweight (145 lbs) to lightweight (155 lbs) and won a title but struggled when moving up to welterweight (170 lbs).

All of these cases show that moving up requires serious preparation, and jumping two divisions at once is incredibly rare.

What’s Next for Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev?

While the idea of Makhachev moving up to middleweight is exciting, his next logical step would likely be a welterweight fight before considering a move to 185 lbs.

Meanwhile, Khamzat Chimaev is already in title contention at middleweight. With victories over top contenders, he could be fighting for the title sooner rather than later.

Final Thoughts

If Islam Makhachev ever makes it to 185 lbs, a showdown with Khamzat Chimaev would be a dream fight for MMA fans. Both are elite grapplers, both are undefeated, and both have an aura of invincibility.

However, for now, Chimaev remains the king of middleweight, while Makhachev still has work to do in the lightweight and welterweight divisions. If they do meet in the future, it could be one of the biggest fights in UFC history.

Until then, all eyes are on Makhachev’s next move and whether he can defy the odds and conquer multiple weight classes.