UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev prefers not to jeopardize his personal relationship with Nassourdine Imavov by fighting him.
Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) has options for his first title defense, but Imavov (17-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) stands out after extending his winning streak to five with a win over Caio Borralho this past September.
Advertisement
“There is Imavov, there is (Sean) Strickland, (Anthony) Hernandez, whoever,” Chimaev told ESPN MMA. “All of them I see big check, good money. These fights don’t make me excited, but I need to do my job. I need to make money, but if there is a big name to make more money then I will be excited.”
Sean Strickland fights Anthony Hernandez at a UFC Fight Night main event on Feb. 21 from Toyota Center in Houston (Paramount+), but Imavov is a frontrunner in many people’s eyes. Chimaev acknowledges him as a worthy No. 1 contender but wouldn’t necessarily enjoy fighting him.
“We didn’t train MMA. We just wrestled a bit,” Chimaev said of Imavov. “He knows my wrestling skills. I don’t know his striking skills. It wasn’t MMA, but I was there. I just tried to help him fix stuff. He’s a good guy, I know him, he knows me. If you ask me, I don’t want to fight this guy because we know each other. He’s Muslim, and he’s from Dagestan.
“You know how Dagestan and Chechnyan people, it’s a lot of drama, internet, and all these sh*t things, but if the UFC wants it, I’m never going to say no. If the guy wants it, I told his manager, as well, if Nassourdine wants, I will be open to it. If he says he can wait until I move up, I’m not going to say no. I want to fight this guy. For me, it doesn’t matter. Whatever he decides, the UFC decides, we’ll see.”
Advertisement
Chimaev drew up another scenario he sees playing out.
“There are a lot of other guys, as well,” Chimaev said. “Strickland win against him (Imavov), so maybe they can do a match or I fight Strickland. I can fight (Reinier) de Ridder, or I don’t know. Whoever.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Khamzat Chimaev not keen on one matchup as first UFC title defense
