UFC News: Khamzat Chimaev Names His ‘Penalty’ From Dana White if Israel Adesanya Gets Title Shot Over Him Against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 300

Jan 22, 2024 | 9:47 PM EST

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Khamzat Chimaev moved to middleweight, and won his first fight but since then things have been quiet. Chimaev was promised a big title opportunity, were he to win his bout against Kamaru Usman. However, will it come to fruition anytime soon?

The middleweight division has just been shook up with Dricus Du Plessis becoming the new champion. He took down Sean Strickland at UFC 297 and was quick to call out the #1 fighter of the division and former champ, Israel Adesanya. So where is Chimaev in the picture?

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Khamzat Chimaev either wants the gold or the green

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Khamzat Chimaev is a prizefighter. Or at least so he admitted when he sat down for an interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. The two discussed the UFC’s next big move and whether or not he’ll get his promised title shot. So far, an announcement hasn’t been made. But Chimaev is certain of two things.

It’s either the belt or the money. “So what you gonna do?” he said about the UFC’s next decision. “I beat them all, I make them scared. All the guys who is like nobody they calling me out. Nobody real nobody that beats nobody they come just come to the UFC they call me out you know. So this is not make sense, they don’t have a name, they can’t make no money with the Sheep Fighters you know, so if there’s some good fight, some big name, if they give me big money, so of course I don’t care about the f*cking belt.”

It’s a common occurrence within the promotion. Newer fighters look above the ladder to seek a big fight so they can propel their careers ahead. Khamzat Chimaev wants nothing to do with those. He wants to go in for that massive payday and if not, the belt itself. Of course, being the champion means having a big payday sooner or later.

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“I’m ready for UFC 300 just let me know you know,” he told Okamoto later. He asked to either get the belt or double the money. That could amount to $2 million for Chimaev who earns a base salary of $1 million already. Now that’s one big pay day indeed. But where has he been missing this whole time if he wants so much from the UFC?

What has Chimaev been up to this whole time?

Khamzat Chimaev defeated Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 and then disappeared. What happened? It was revealed later by Dana White that the fighter’s sudden and extended absence was due to sickness. It was also reported that the Chechen had torn a ligament in the hand right after the Usman fight.

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Soon, ‘Borz’ would disappear and his healing would begin. Now, he’s back and has been training ever since he recovered. A viral video of him showed him training even when everyone else had gone to celebrate Christmas. Everything is about the fight and the money for Chimaev and it shows. Will he get his big demands fulfilled?

Also Read: ‘He Has Always Been Very Respectful’- Hours Before UFC 297, Dricus Du Plessis Makes Shocking Revelation About ‘Nice Guy’ Sean Strickland Despite Their Feud