Khamzat Chimaev has spoken for the first time since getting involved in the crypto coin controversy involving allegations of pump and dump weeks after his decision to withdraw from the Robert Whittaker fight late last month.
The 30-year-old UFC fighter has not stepped inside the cage since his majority decision win over Kamaru Usman back on October 23 at UFC 294 and is aiming to get back in action later this year in Abu Dhabi at UFC 308.
Contrary to fans’ expectations, Chimaev wants to fight for the title.
“Most likely (my return will happen) in October in Abu Dhabi, (The opponent is) unknown so far. I would like to fight for the title.” He said Match TV in Russian.
“I have seven fights, seven victories. There is no fighter in the UFC who has won seven fights without fighting for the belt.”
While Chimaev’s claims that a fighter deserves a title shot with seven straight wins in the UFC stands true in most cases, he probably forgot about Islam Makhachev and most importantly Tony Ferguson when he demanded the title shot.
Tony Ferguson did not get a title shot despite 12 straight victories
Tony Ferguson was on a 12-fight winning streak when he got the opportunity to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC Lightweight title. However, as luck would have it, the COVID-19 pandemic would take that chance away from El Cucuy, who had to settle for another interim title shot against Justin Gaethje back at UFC 249.
But that was the start of Ferguson’s downfall, who has failed to win a fight ever since.
Blame the UFC and the stars of Tony Ferguson for never getting the opportunity he truly deserved, but for Khamzat Chimaev to make the claim that no fighter has gone on a 7-fight winning streak without getting a title shot is far from the truth.
Even Islam Makhachev was on a 10-fight winning streak before he got his chance at the strap against Charles Oliveira.
Should Khamzat Chimaev get a title shot next?
Khamzat Chimaev deserves a title shot owing to notable wins over some of the finest mixed martial artists today. However, fighting in two different weight classes and his inactivity thwarts that idea. He currently competes in the UFC’s Middleweight division, which has moved forward in his absence.
The situation as it stands right now has Sean Strickland waiting for a title shot against the winner of Du Plessis vs Adesanya at UFC 305. Chimaev had a great opportunity against Whittaker when he was scheduled to fight the former Champion, however, even that train has left the station and many feel that The Reaper deserves a title shot next.
So where does it leave Khamzat Chimaev? I would say nowhere close to a title shot.