"I won't be surprised" - Former UFC contender lays out case for Khamzat Chimaev becoming three-division champion

The idea of Khamzat Chimaev chasing history seems plausible to many seasoned voices in the sport.

Former UFC lightweight contender Josh Thomson believes Chimaev has the tools to win titles across three weight classes. Thomson believes the UFC middleweight champion's tall and long frame is built to carry size without losing speed.

He also pointed out that the current top of the 205-pound division is stacked with elite strikers and short on true wrestlers. That plays directly into Chimaev’s strengths.

Sharing his thoughts on the WEIGHING IN podcast, he said:

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"Look, everyone wants a double gold, but I’ve said this before, it’s easier to do it from 185 to 205 and then even up to heavyweight. I would not be surprised, to be honest, if he’s [Chimaev] the first guy to go three champs. You look at his body style, he’s tall, long, and lanky. He doesn’t seem like he has a hard time putting weight on, especially after missing weight at 170."

He added:

"At 205, you pull up the rankings, and they’re all strikers. All of those guys he can beat. His style of wrestling, the low ankle shots, the takedowns, you put him against those guys, and he dominates top position and probably subs them. There are no real wrestlers in that weight class. Ankalaev is the best wrestler there, and he doesn’t even wrestle. He could win that title in his first or second fight, depending on what the UFC wants to do. Because it’s Chimaev, they might just give him a title shot. He gets one win, and then he’s there. If he goes up, he’s only dealing with the top four or five guys. Everyone else is a striker, and that’s why I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he ends up being a three-division champion.”

Check out Josh Thomson's comments below:

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Nassourdine Imavov previews potential clash against Khamzat Chimaev

Nassourdine Imavov is not rewriting his identity just because Khamzat Chimaev looms in the title picture. The French contender has made it clear that striking remains his foundation, even against one of the most feared grapplers in the UFC.

Imavov believes abandoning his strengths to mirror an opponent would be a costly mistake. In an interview with RMC Sport, he said:

“We’ll focus on our strengths. People think if you’re facing a wrestler, you must focus only on wrestling. That would be a mistake. I’m not a wrestler by nature. You see, I’m a striker. I’ll work on my strength. That’s what makes the difference. That’s how I win my fights. And without forgetting my wrestling of course. We’ll work heavily on takedown defense. It's a scenario I've already played in my head [Khamzat might move up]. But it’s not that bad. All I want from the beginning is not to face Khamzat; it's to take the UFC belt.”

Edited by Abhishek Nambiar