Dana White: Khamzat Chimaev Must Defend Middleweight Title Before Moving Weight Classes
UFC CEO Dana White has made it clear that middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev needs to defend his belt at 185 pounds before the promotion considers letting him move up to light heavyweight. Speaking at the UFC Fight Night 267 post‑fight press conference in Houston, White reiterated that defending the title should come before any talk of skipping weight classes.
Dana White Urges Khamzat Chimaev to Defend UFC Middleweight Belt, Not Jump Divisions
“I’d like to see him defend his title at a weight first. I’d rather see him defend his title before he talks about jumping around from division to division without defending.”
Chimaev, who sits at 15–0 in his professional record and 9–0 in the UFC, captured the undisputed middleweight title by defeating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in August 2025. That bout was a five‑round rout, with Chimaev controlling du Plessis for most of the fight and landing a UFC‑record 529 strikes. He has not yet defended the belt, and the UFC has been working toward lining up a first title challenger from the middleweight division.
Despite his recent ascent at 185, Chimaev has repeatedly stated that he plans to move up to light heavyweight before long. He told ESPN in late 2025 that he intended to make one middleweight title defense and then chase a championship at 205, targeting Alex Pereira, the current light‑heavyweight champion. Those comments align with a broader pattern of new champions eyeing higher weight classes, but White pointedly framed a preemptive jump as a responsibility issue.
White emphasized in Houston that he would prefer Chimaev defend the middleweight belt before discussing travel between divisions. He said he wants to see a title defense first and expressed discomfort with athletes moving up in weight without putting their current championship on the line. At the same time, White voiced openness to Alex Pereira’s own ambitions, including a possible move up to heavyweight, while drawing a contrast with Chimaev’s situation.
On the contender side, Nassourdine Imavov and Sean Strickland have emerged as names the UFC can point to if Chimaev commits to defending at middleweight. Strickland’s recent knockout of Anthony Hernandez in Houston added another layer to the 185‑pound conversation, even though White has consistently separated Strickland’s behavior in media from his in‑cage value. For now, White’s message is straightforward: Chimaev’s next step should be a middleweight title defense, not a jump to light heavyweight.
