Anyway, it’s already been over six months since "Borz” personally controlled Dricus du Plessis to win middleweight gold (see here). Injuries prevented talks of a quick comeback from coming to fruition, which threw Chimaev’s entire career into uncertainty. Will the champion give up 185 pounds to pursue a second title with no defense? Nassourdine Imavov has earned a title shot, but Chimaev has shown no interest in facing a fellow fighter with Russian ties.
More importantly, he also confirmed that he is healthy and wants Sean Strickland to reply next time, not Imavov. Asked if he was injured, Chimaev said: “No. [am] waiting [Sean Strickland].” When he said "Tarzan,” he quickly responded with an American flag and a fist emoji.
Maybe these two will end up heading to the UFC White House? Chimaev has previously expressed doubts that a Russian fighter would be welcome on South Lawn, while Strickland once said he did not want to fight in front of "the Epstein list.” But since it’s all about money and opportunity, perhaps this is one of the high-profile title fights that UFC CEO Dana White has been teasing.
Hopefully, we’ll find out soon.