Khamzat Chimaev rules out fight with top light heavyweight contender after UFC 328 move up

Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC

Khamzat Chimaev is set to continue his heated rivalry with Sean Strickland next Saturday when the pair meet in the main event of UFC 328.

The undefeated champion already hinted that the bout could mark his final appearance at middleweight as he continues discussing a possible move to the light heavyweight division.

That division currently lacks star power after Alex Pereira’s move to heavyweight and that would make Chimaev’s moving up even more interesting.

However, ‘Borz’ has made it clear he does not intend to face one of the top contenders if he changes weight classes.

Khamzat Chimaev rules out fight against Khalil Rountree Jr.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Chimaev confirmed during a recent press conference that he has no interest in fighting Khalil Rountree Jr., who helped him prepare for the upcoming showdown against Strickland at UFC 328.

“I’m never gonna fight Khalil. If I’m brother with you, I’m real brother, don’t do that b——— like Strickland does,” the 32-year-old said during a press conference on Wednesday.

“He calls you ‘brother’ one day and the second day he fights you. I can’t do that s—. I wanna be real,” the middleweight champion concluded.

That position could complicate future matchmaking plans because Rountree currently sits as the No. 5 contender at light heavyweight and remains one of the leading names linked with a potential interim title fight while Carlos Ulberg is recovering from a serious knee injury.

Khalil Rountree Jr. already warned division about Khamzat Chimaev’s move

Rountree recently admitted that light heavyweights should be worried if Chimaev eventually moves up permanently following his middleweight title defence against Strickland.