Khamzat Chimaev has been told he will not be allowed to "jump" the queue and receive a UFC title shot against Alex Pereira.
'Borz' has been campaigning at 170lb where he has recorded several victories to rise into title contention against the likes of Gilbert Burns and Li Jingliang. In his last fight, Chimaev missed weight for his planned clash with Nate Diaz which saw him instead choke out late replacement Kevin Holland.
This led to suggestions that Chimaev would make the switch up to 185lb which he immediately called for on social media by challenging new champion Pereira. However the Brazilian's training partner Glover Teixeira believes that Chimaev should be forced to work his way up the rankings at a new weight before receiving the call.
I don't know, he [Khamzat Chimaev] can't miss weight in one division and then come back and fight for the title right away," Texeira said in an interview with Helen Yee when discussing potential challenges to Pereira's new crown. "He's got to work his way up there. The talk helps to get there, but the way I see it, go there and do the work man. You cannot come from 170 and jump in. He's not the champ at 170 or anything."
He later added in an interview with the MMA Hour : “This fight is all talk. I usually don’t get into talk that doesn’t make any sense, but to light heavyweight, this guy says he accepted it. I remember Alex calling Jorge and saying, ‘Hey Jorge, let’s fight in Brazil.’ I said, ‘What are you doing? You fight in Brazil?
"Your legs are hurt. You kicked so much, your shins are hurt. You haven’t recovered. Just chill for a while.’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, but this guy’s talking, I’ll fight him at 205. I don’t want to cut the weight.’ I said, ‘Yeah, you can’t cut the weight.’ Alex is a very strong mind.”
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Pereira picked up the title with a final round KO victory over Israel Adesanya last month, which was just his fourth win since signing with the promotion. It is likely that he will face an immediate challenge from the Nigerian who has already stated his claim to a second UFC meeting in 2023.
And 'Poatan' has admitted that it will be Adesanya who is the most likely to receive the shot next year. He posted on Instagram : “Adesanya stop making excuses saying that the referee stopped the fight early, you have to thank him for saving your life. The way you were with your head down looking at the ground.
"As I said at that point in the video, you were a great opponent and I respect you for that. Assume the mistakes along with your team without taking away my merits. You will have one more chance! You’re next!”
