'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Khamzat Chimaev is now being rumored to fight Alex Pereira for the UFC light heavyweight title. While the promotion has made no official announcements regarding the matchup, it has drawn the attention of former UFC heavyweight contender Brendan Schaub.
On X, Schaub reacted to a tweet from a news and media account that randomly claimed that a Pereira vs. Chimaev light heavyweight championship bout is in the works. Naturally, Schaub was in disbelief, as no credible source has reported on the rumored matchup.
"This for real?!"
Trending
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
Chimaev once teased his interest in three-division championship status. Unfortunately, it may not be in the cards for him, as he fights at middleweight with potential for a light heavyweight stint. Given how disastrous his previous 170-pound weight cut went, a welterweight return seems unlikely.
For now, the light heavyweight title picture remains muddied, at best. Magomed Ankalaev recently defeated Aleksandar Rakić in convincing fashion at UFC 308, after which he campaigned for a title shot against Pereira, who seems disinterested in facing the Dagestani.
In fact, 'Poatan' recently tweeted that Ankalaev will not be his next title challenger, which will likely only fuel the rhetoric that he is deliberately avoiding him. Furthermore, there is also the looming specter of a potential heavyweight title clash with Jon Jones, who is more than willing to face him.
As for Chimaev's case, it is far more likely that he will face the winner of UFC 312's Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland middleweight championship headliner, especially after his one-round destruction of Robert Whittaker at UFC 308.
Khamzat Chimaev actually called Alex Pereira out in the past
Khamzat Chimaev is no stranger to making callouts on social media. The unbeaten Chechen phenom doesn't even mind when potential opponents fight in divisions other than his own. After Alex Pereira defeated Jan Błachowicz in a competitive bout, 'Borz' issued a challenge on X.
"I'm want to fight with this guy @ufc @danawhite let's make it"
Naturally, the UFC gave no credence to Chimaev's request, and he has since found a place for himself in the promotion's middleweight division.
