Khamzat Chimaev has worked hard for that 13-0 record, and while the world is busy with celebrations this holiday season,  he seemingly keeps on going. In a recent video shared by the fighter, he can be seen sweating, tired, alone in the gym, and perhaps even sick. Yet still ready to go at it. After UFC 294, he’s not fought anyone, and fans got a sneak peek at the fighter’s devotion and exceptional grit for the sport. So the question that is making rounds is, what are the chances that Chechen sees a title shot soon and what is he preparing for?

Chimaev is yet to receive a new fight after he took down Kamaru Usman. The fighter had moved on to middleweight and so far, he has shown his desire to stay in the weight class and aim for the belt. Strickland has also remarked on how he’d be happy to fight ‘Borz’. So, is he gearing up to take on the champion? Here’s how Chimaev is preparing for the UFC gold.

Khamzat Chimaev wants the belt

At middleweight, things are afoot. If Khamzat Chimaev decides to stay at middleweight, he may see interesting fights and perhaps a championship opportunity if he earns one. As of now, the reigning champ Sean Strickland is scheduled to go up against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297.

Strickland and Chimaev have beefed beef over the belt before. Nevertheless, for now, all ‘Borz’ can do is wait and work harder. And in his latest update, it would appear that’s exactly what he has been up to this whole time. The clip is from around Christmas time when his gym had emptied but he was still there. Let’s take a look.

“I wanna stay champion, brother,” he said upon being asked why he keeps training and continued- “I have to win my fights. To kill everybody. I don’t know, it’s Christmas now, that’s why maybe they go home. But we stay. Christmas, holidays, every day. It doesn’t matter. Have to work.

“When you sick, you have to rest. Now, we are smarter, work harder to take this f*cking belt bro. I’m gonna take it. It’s my belt. They know it’s my belt, but just the guys run away. But soon, I take them.” He promised his fans on an Instagram story that he uploaded of the same video. He’s clearly getting ready to get back into the cage, but at middleweight, how soon could it realistically be?

Possible contenders for the 185-pound belt

Sean Strickland’s belt might be the one in the most danger right now. Well, apart from Du Plessis being a brilliant fighter, other changes may affect the championship too. After all, Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler are both entering the middleweight division in June 2024.

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On the other hand are threats like Chimaev who has always wanted to fight Strickland. And even apart from Khamzat Chimaev, the middleweight number 1 ranked fighter, Israel Adesanya is perhaps also eyeing his return.

So will all the changes shake up the middleweight division completely? Let us know in the comment section.

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