""I don't want to fight [here] again. I want to move up," White said Chimaev told him. "Ever since Fight Island, he's gone on a run, he's undefeated, won the world title. He did everything he's said he's going to do. But with the level of success, and lifestyle, it makes it tough," noted White."
""Borz" had teased a move to 205lbs prior to the Strickland bout. He had been 15-0 prior to the loss, starting his career on " Fight Island " during the coronavirus pandemic. Back then, White saw something special in the fighter, who also competed as a welterweight. On Sunday, White suggested Chimaev had lived up to the hype."
"Things even wound up cordial after the main event had been settled, with Chimaev putting the belt on Strickland, and Strickland admitting that he'd gone "too far" with his trash talk selling the match-up."
""He's a champion. When you see somebody fight for the first time, and you're like 'wow this guy's special' and they become a world champion in the UFC, yeah I would say so [that he lived up to expectations]." And so White is satisfied that Chimaev has reached the potential he saw in the Chechen fighter all those years ago. "100%""
Khamzat Chimaev lost his middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 328, suffering his first professional defeat via split decision. After the fight, the exchange between the fighters stayed cordial, with Chimaev placing the belt on Strickland and Strickland acknowledging he had gone too far with trash talk. UFC CEO Dana White said Chimaev told him he did not want to fight at 185 pounds again and wanted to move up. White noted Chimaev’s undefeated run, world title success, and the difficulty of maintaining the lifestyle and success at that weight. White also said Chimaev had lived up to the expectations he saw early in his career.
Read at Cageside Press
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