After Israel Adesanya’s most recent title defense, Khamzat Chimaev has increased the intensity of his call-out of the UFC middleweight champion.
After winning at middleweight and welterweight, Chimaev has previously stated his aim to become the first-ever three-weight UFC champion. The Chechen is unranked at 185lb, but requested a bout with Adesanya following the UFC 276.
Adesanya has acknowledged that he is not currently eyeing a matchup with Chimaev, but he did take note of his victory over Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 in April. “I don’t have to take him seriously till I have to take him seriously and that’s a guy that definitely I’d like to fight if he does what he says he wants to do, because guess what? He’ll bring in a lot of eyes,” Adesanya told the True Geordie.
Following his latest victory, Chimaev also challenged top middleweight contender Alex Pereira. In reference to Pereira, a kickboxer who has twice defeated Adesanya:”I want to fight with this guy, UFC, Dana White, let’s make it.”
