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Morning Report | Khalil Rountree Jr.: Light heavyweight division is âkind of screwedâ if Khamzat Chimaev moves up
TL;DR
Khalil Rountree Jr. warns that the light heavyweight division could face challenges if Khamzat Chimaev moves up. Chimaev is preparing for his middleweight title defense against Sean Strickland at UFC 328.
Key points
- Khalil Rountree Jr. warns light heavyweight division is in trouble.
- Khamzat Chimaev defends middleweight title against Sean Strickland.
- Rountree is impressed by Chimaev's skill and work ethic.
- Training with Chimaev is described as exhausting and humbling.
Khalil Rountree Jr.Khamzat ChimaevSean StricklandUFC 328
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 16: Khamzat Chimaev of Russia reacts after round one against Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa in the UFC middleweight championship fight during the UFC 319 event at the United Center on August 16, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)
Khalil Rountree Jr. thinks that the light heavyweight division is in trouble if Khazmat Chimaev comes calling.
Next weekend, Chimaev makes the first defense of his middleweight title, taking on Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328. As such, Chimaev has been putting in the hours in the gym, and one of his primary training partners for this fight is former light heavyweight title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. And after spending a lot of time with him on the mat over the past few months, Rountree is thoroughly impressed by âBorz.â
âItâs definitely exhausting,â Rountree told reporters at a media scrum on Thursday (h/t MMA Junkie) when asked about their training. âItâs exhausting, itâs difficult, itâs humbling. Itâs inspiring in a way, too, because his effort and his will, his skill is unmatched. So, when you go up against that, thereâs a lot of things that can be said. Thereâs just a lot of things that can be learned when you truly find yourself going against the best in the world.â
And when he says best in the world, Rountree means it. Chimaev is currently the middleweight champion, but heâs already begun talking about moving up to 205 pounds to chase a second title, and if he decides to do so, Rountree thinks the 205-pound division could be in trouble.
âI feel many different ways,â Rountree said when asked about Chimaev moving up. âWhen I first heard the news, I was like a bit bummed out, really. Just to know that a guy like Khamzat would come to the division, and could be a potential matchup if that happened, it doesnât make me happy to think about that.
Q&A
What did Khalil Rountree Jr. say about Khamzat Chimaev's potential move to light heavyweight?
Khalil Rountree Jr. believes the light heavyweight division is in trouble if Khamzat Chimaev decides to move up.
When is Khamzat Chimaev's next fight and who is he facing?
Khamzat Chimaev's next fight is on August 16, 2025, where he will defend his middleweight title against Sean Strickland at UFC 328.
How has Khalil Rountree Jr. described training with Khamzat Chimaev?
Rountree described training with Chimaev as exhausting, difficult, and humbling, noting that Chimaev's skill and effort are unmatched.
What impact could Khamzat Chimaev have on the light heavyweight division?
If Chimaev moves up to light heavyweight, it could disrupt the current dynamics and competition within that division.
