Khamzat Chimaev is amid his personal “Vinland Saga Homecoming”. As UFC 308 approached, fans witnessed a noticeable change in his demeanor. The Chechen fighter seemed more analytical and composed, signaling a shift in his ferocious approach as he prepared to step back into the octagon.

Interestingly, this new strategy paid off spectacularly, allowing him to secure a swift and brutal submission victory over Robert Whittaker in under a round. With this revitalized power and focus, Chimaev now poses a significant threat to all contenders in the 185-pound division. And Team Khabib seems to ride this wagon as evidenced by recent comments from AKA head coach Javier Mendez, who praised Chimaev’s potential.

Javier Mendez warns 205fers about the threat named Khamzat Chimaev

While speaking to Submission Radio, Javier Mendez spoke about the dominating outing Khamzat Chimaev had at UFC 308. Mendez acknowledged that Whittaker was a well-rounded fighter but ultimately the undefeated Chechen wolf took the prize home. This prompted Khabib Nurmagomedov’s former coach to say that ‘Borz’ could pose a big threat to the fighters in the light heavyweight division as well.

He said, “He is the guy that I see beating a lot of people even in Light Heavyweight. I do believe in him that much. The 185lbs and the light heavyweight division is a fun fight and I will tell you why because they are not good enough. Khamzat is gonna dispose of them right away. He is not gonna, he won’t play with his food. That guy is unbelievable he just eats quick you know. It’s done, it’s done and the one thing about this one I noticed he was a lot more relaxed than he has ever been. So that impressed me about him.”

Now that Chimaev has passed perhaps the biggest test of his career, he is lined up for a shot at the middleweight title next. After his emphatic performance, Chimaev joined Daniel Cormier for the post-fight interview and proclaimed his insistence as the next title challenger while also commending Whittaker for his legendary status in the division. The Chechen wolf also claimed that other contenders and champions wouldn’t wanna step into the octagon with him and urged Dana White to give him the gold. ‘Borz’ reiterated the same sentiment in the post-fight presser as well. 

“It doesn’t matter Sean or Dricus, just going for the gold,” Chimaev told reporters, including MMA Junkie at the UFC 308 post-fight press conference. “So, we’ll see what happens next. I’m ready.” He also spoke about Dricus Du Plessis when reporters asked about the latter’s grappling. “How I did with this guy, Rob, and how he did?” Chimaev said. “Rob took him down, so if Rob took him down, there is salam alaikum (against me).” 

As Chimaev cements himself at the top of the division, fans and pundits alike expect him to fight for the gold next. Let’s have a closer look!

What lies ahead for Khamzat Chimaev?

UFC CEO Dana White recently announced that Sean Strickland would be next in line for a shot at the middleweight title currently held by Dricus Du Plessis. However, Khamzat Chimaev made an emphatic statement following his impressive victory and it’s evident that the undefeated star has a compelling case for a title shot, but the question remains: how will he leapfrog the competition?

Chimaev’s revamped fighting style and a return to his former coach have reignited him as a formidable opponent, and few fighters can match his intensity. Nonetheless, Chimaev is even prepared to fight Israel Adesanya in a bout he considers a “money fight” if a title shot doesn’t materialize.

Moreover, a potential rematch between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis is rumored for UFC 312 in Australia, though nothing has been confirmed yet. On top of that, Strickland took to X immediately after Chimaev’s win and said, “Understand one thing…. I am next in line….. It’s been said, it’s been written… January/February me and Dricus du Plessis are scrapping.”

He also took a jibe in classic ‘Tarzan’ fashion and wrote further, “Go back to Chechnya and wait a few months….. wait.. sorry UAE… you’re not allowed in Chechnya…But hey crypto scams while you wait.” However, following the events of UFC 308, this situation has become less clear. When asked about the next matchup for the Chechnya superstar, Dana White responded, “That’s a good question. Call me on Tuesday,” indicating a positive outlook about his immediate future.

While Strickland remains determined about his path, White’s wavering suggests that Khamzat Chimaev’s impressive performance may have shifted the landscape. As fans eagerly await the next developments in this exciting division, only time will tell if Chimaev will secure a title shot sooner rather than later. Who do you see fighting next for the 185lbs title? Let us know in the comment section below!