It looks like a middleweight title shot isn’t that far away for Khamzat Chimaev! The undefeated juggernaut has long been hunting for UFC gold, and as Dricus Du Plessis defends his crown against Sean Strickland in Sydney, many fans were wondering if Chimaev is next in line.

Even Du Plessis himself has entertained the idea. In a recent interview with ESPN, the champion confessed, “I was rallying for the Khamzat [Chimaev] fight, just because it was [a case of trying to] strike while the iron is hot.” With so much buzz around ‘Borz’s title shot, at the UFC 312 press conference the MMA sphere naturally turned to UFC CEO Dana White for answers!

Dana White puts the middleweight division on alert with massive update on Khamzat Chimaev’s title shot

At UFC 312 the 185 lbs. king Dricus Du Plessis is gearing up to defend his throne against Sean Strickland. A rematch of their UFC 297 clash, the stakes are sky-high for this bout. But, at the pre-fight press-conference, there was another bombshell dropped by head honcho Dana White! The UFC boss was asked about Chimaev’s status and whether, “Will he be at the fights this weekend watching the main event? And is he officially next in your mind for the title?”

In a straightforward response, White fired back with, “Yeah, I don’t know anything about him being here. And as far as I know, he’s not going to be at the event, no. And obviously, he’s in line.” That last phrase—”he’s in line”—was all fans needed to hear. Chimaev’s title hopes are still alive. But when exactly will he get his shot? White’s response was far from a confirmation, leaving plenty of room for speculation.

Adding to the intrigue, Khamzat Chimaev himself has fueled speculation with his social media activity. ‘Borz’ had posted on Instagram that he had to reschedule his planned Australian tour from December to February, writing, “I apologize to my fans in Australia, but I promise it will be worth the wait. I’m coming for everybody in February, See you soon. Smesh everybody!”

The timing couldn’t be more interesting. With UFC 312 taking place just as Chimaev touches down in Australia, fans can’t help but wonder—coincidence or a calculated move? Could he be there to make a statement? Perhaps even step into the cage to issue a challenge to the winner? It remains to be seen!

Because even if the belt changes hands and Strickland re-claims his throne, there’s already quite a bit of verbal back-and-forth that has happened between the two elite middleweights.

Strickland and ‘Borz’ go back and forth as things heat up between former training partners  

What happens when former training partners find themselves fighting for the same goal, the elusive UFC gold? Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev weren’t always at odds. Once, they trained together at Xtreme Couture, testing their skills on the mats. Now, instead of grappling in the gym, they’re trading jabs through the media.

During his UFC 312 media day appearance, Strickland didn’t hold anything back as he fired off on ‘Borz’s antics outside of the Octagon. In his now trademark unfiltered manner, ‘Tarzan’ stated, “I had the same Bitcoin scam offer to me. It was like $100,000-$200,000. I was like, f—– you, dude. I’m not going to scam my fans. I don’t need money that bad. But that’s what Chimaev did.”

Rather than meeting Strickland’s words with fury, Chimaev hopped onto social media and posted a photo of Strickland’s new mustache. No words. Just a series of laughing emojis. Whether that’s confidence or dismissal, one thing is clear—this rivalry isn’t over yet.

With Strickland gunning for his belt back at UFC 312 and Chimaev the next in line for a title shot as proclaimed by Dana White, could the two finally settle things in the Octagon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!