5 reasons why the UFC should book Khamzat Chimaev vs. Paulo Costa next

#4. This is the ideal time for Khamzat Chimaev to move to middleweight

Often-times, fighters change weight classes when they're at the end of a string of defeats. Hoping for renewed success, fighters usually change teams or move to a new division. It is rare for a mixed martial artist who is yet to taste defeat to make the decision to pursue success in a different weight class. Not only is Khamzat Chimaev still undefeated, he is at the very peak of his physical powers.

After the difficult weight cut he endured, Chimaev was advised by many to abandon the welterweight division. While 'Borz' once made weight on 10 days notice, that was before he fell victim to COVID. According to his head coach, Khamzat Chimaev continues to suffer from lingering effects after recovering from the disease.

Regardless, if Chimaev is suffering from post-COVID issues that have rendered cutting weight more difficult than usual, he should move to middleweight sooner rather than later. He's approaching his thirties when cutting weight becomes even more difficult. The potential impact these issues might have on his body if he suffers another bad weight cut can be avoided if he commits to 185lbs now.

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#3. The matchup will answer questions for both fighters

There are lingering questions revolving around a proper title run for Khamzat Chimaev in the middleweight division. Chimaev is a powerful wrestler whose versatility in pursuing takedowns renders him exceptionally dangerous. 'Borz' uses round kicks and front kicks to create openings for his takedowns. Front kicks straighten an opponent's posture when they land on the midsection.

With his opponent's stance narrowed, Chimaev leaves them poorly equipped to widen their base to defend takedowns. Similarly, Khamzat Chimaev uses round kicks to draw counterpunches from opponents who hope to catch him one-legged for an easy knockdown. Once his opponents square their hips, overexposing them as they commit to a punch, 'Borz' ducks under their punch for a quick takedown.

While the middleweight division lacks strong wrestlers, Paulo Costa is difficult to outwrestle. No one has managed to successfully hold Costa down as the Brazilian even flung Yoel Romero off of himself after conceding a takedown. If Chimaev faces Costa, it will reveal how the undefeated Chechen's wrestling will fare against top middleweights.

Additionally, it will identify exactly where Costa stands in the middleweight division. While he defeated Luke Rockhold last month, he was engulfed in a 2-fight losing streak at the hands of Marvin Vettori and Israel Adesanya.