‘Dana White Privilege’ for Khamzat Chimaev Puts a Slap on Rivals Face Before UFC 308

Khamzat Chimaev has been asking for a title shot for a while now but has been stuck fighting top contenders. However, it seems there’s a chance that he could make it to title contention if he triumphs this weekend over Robert Whittaker. Chimaev recently claimed that the UFC’s been telling him about getting a title shot for years now, but he seemed positive about possibly taking over Sean Strickland‘s spot.

“I hope so [getting a title shot], but they said that before as well, when I beat Gilbert Burns, how long time ago, 2-3 years ago now… After that, Usman. If he beats Usman, then fight for the title. So we will see,” Khamzat Chimaev stated during UFC 308 media day. Although he’s not getting championship fights, ‘Borz’ claims to be earning a champion’s payout. Hence, he doesn’t seem to have issues with Dana White and Co., at least at this point.

“But I’m happy with the money. I am making more money than any champion as well. So yeah [life is good],” Chimaev added. The Emirati does have a healthy following in the MMA world and has even been deemed a star by Dana White himself, and seeing what he had to say about the money, there is a definite hint of the UFC CEO having an affinity towards ‘Borz’, or as some call it, ‘Dana White Privilege’. Could that mean he’s next for Dricus du Plessis?

Meanwhile, Sean Strickland’s claim to a title shot is backed by the fact that he never got the rematch against Dricus du Plessis, despite Dana White claiming that he thought ‘Tarzan’ had won the first one. It was a pretty close encounter. Nevertheless, the South African star is ready to take on any and all challenges, but when it comes to Khamzat Chimaev, ‘Stillknocks’ claims that ‘Borz’ has some proving to do before asking for a title shot.

Dricus du Plessis claims Khamzat Chimaev hasn’t done enough to enter the title conversation

Khamzat Chimaev is undefeated and since entering the UFC, he’s been manhandling most of his opponents, and getting popular because of it. So, of course, Dricus du Plessis wants to fight ‘Borz’ to hand him his first career defeat and to prove his dominance over the Emirati fighter. “I would love to fight Khamzat. Nobody’s beaten him, and he was almost like the boogeyman of this division,” Dricus du Plessis told ‘Submission’ Radio’ a few months ago.

However, giving him a title shot “doesn’t make sense” for Dricus du Plessis. He believes Khamzat Chimaev needs to beat some more top 185’ers to get included in the title fight conversation, given that his recent return to middleweight took place against former welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman. “he hasn’t fought one single ranked middleweight; not one; and to even put him in that conversation right now seems like we’re wasting time talking about it. He’s not in the run, and up until he proves that he deserves to be in that run, there’s no use in talking about it,” du Plessis added.

Dana White has given many fighters title shots that the fans and fellow contenders may not agree with. But if he thinks a fighter is credible enough, there’s no two ways about it. Could that be Khamzat Chimaev next? Drop your comments below.