Sean O'Malley breaks down why Khamzat Chimaev's rumored move to middleweight will hugely benefit him
Sean O'Malley has weighed in on recent rumors regarding Khamzat Chimaev's potential move from the welterweight (170-pound) division to the middleweight (185-pound) division.
One of Chimaev's welterweight rivals, Gilbert Burns, recently claimed that he heard 'Borz' might return to middleweight next. The undefeated Chimaev failed to make the welterweight limit in his most recent fight in September 2022. Chimaev's weight class, opponent, and date for his next bout are currently shrouded in mystery.
I spoke with Gilbert Burns today and when I asked him about a potential rematch with Khamzat Chimaev, he said that he had heard that Chimaev planned to move up to middleweight going forward.
Khamzat Chimaev -- who's competed at welterweight and middleweight thus far -- has vowed to capture UFC titles in the welterweight, middleweight, and light heavyweight (205-pound) divisions. In the latest edition of The BrO'Malley Show, UFC bantamweight superstar 'Sugar' Sean O'Malley addressed how moving to middleweight would help 'Borz.' O'Malley stated:
"That'd be the smartest f***ing career move for that guy. Because making '70, he has to be on a strict diet all year round. He can't f*** around once or twice. I mean, he's not gonna make the weight. Go up to 185. You can eat. You can be strong; do sh** like that."
Khamzat Chimaev steps on the scale at 178.5 pounds, missing weight ahead of his #UFC279 main event bout. https://t.co/uSbqRUVH83
Moreover, Sean O'Malley and his brother Daniel O'Malley agreed that Khamzat Chimaev won't be undersized even at middleweight. 'Sugar' further suggested that former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, reigning UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira, and amateur wrestling star-turned-MMA fighter Bo Nickal would be intriguing matchups for 'Borz' at middleweight.
'Sugar' predicted that akin to himself, Chimaev could be the next big UFC superstar. O'Malley said:
"Yeah, Khamzat, if he can make the weight. I mean, that's a big deal; making the weight. Even if he goes up to 185, Who's up at '85 that would be fun to watch him fight... 'Izzy,' Alex Pereira. Bo Nickal's up there. I mean, he [Nickal] is still obviously new in his career in the UFC, but that's interesting."
Watch O'Malley discuss the topic at 19:15 and 20:55 in the video below:
Michael Bisping outlines Khamzat Chimaev's potential path to UFC middleweight gold
Following Khamzat Chimaev's weight-missing fiasco last September, MMA legend Michael Bisping discussed 'Borz's' possible return to middleweight. On that note, Bisping alluded to Chimaev's run-in with UFC middleweight Paulo Costa at the UFC PI (Performance Institute) earlier that month.
Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev having an argument at the UFC PI.😳
https://t.co/mE3sBL1DgK
Taking to his YouTube channel, Bisping also referenced Costa's relentless trash talk and strategy of promoting a potential fight against Chimaev. He opined that 'Borz' could likely earn a UFC middleweight title shot by defeating fan-favorite middleweight Costa. 'The Count' asserted:
"If he [Khamzat Chimaev] goes and fights Paulo Costa, and if he beats him, he's probably going to get a title fight at 185lbs and 170 will seem like a distant memory."
Watch Bisping's assessment below: