{"id":229637,"date":"2026-02-21T09:30:04","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T09:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/21\/khamzat-chimaev-teases-light-heavyweight-move-sparks-jiri-prochazka-title-fight-rumors\/"},"modified":"2026-02-21T09:30:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T09:30:04","slug":"khamzat-chimaev-teases-light-heavyweight-move-sparks-jiri-prochazka-title-fight-rumors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/21\/khamzat-chimaev-teases-light-heavyweight-move-sparks-jiri-prochazka-title-fight-rumors\/","title":{"rendered":"Khamzat Chimaev teases light heavyweight move, sparks Jiri Prochazka title fight rumors"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content\" data-postid=\"5127134\" data-slug-id=\"2739154\">\n<div class=\"vidazoo-player-container\">\n<span class=\"vidazoo-close-btn  hidden \"><br \/>\n<img data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/cmc-predictor\/v2\/cross-icon.png?w=40\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"close\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Khamzat Chimaev has teased a move up in weight ever since winning the middleweight title. According to &#8216;Borz&#8217;s&#8217; latest social media update, such a move could be coming sooner than expected.<\/p>\n<p>Chimaev has been angling for a showdown against the reigning 205-pound kingpin Alex Pereira for some time, even suggesting he&#8217;d be willing to jump to heavyweight amid &#8216;Poatan&#8217;s&#8217; own ambitions of moving up.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier today, the reigning middleweight champion took to X, writing:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;205.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"bottom-tagline top\" data-tab=\"top\">\n<p>Get the latest updates on One Championship <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/mma\/one-championship-rankings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\" class=\"bottom_tagline_link\" data-tab=\"top\">Rankings<\/a> at Sportskeeda and more<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><template id=\"also-read-articles-template\"><\/p>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p>The update sparked widespread speculation, with reports on social media claiming the Chechen-born Emirati is being lined up to <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DovySimuMMA\/status\/2025022478549242181\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">headline UFC 327<\/a> in Miami against former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka, with the 205-pound title on the line.<\/p>\n<p>If the rumors are true, this would likely signal Pereira finally getting the green light from Dana White for a heavyweight debut.<\/p>\n<p>Chimaev is currently on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/mma\/news-the-predictable-storyline-fans-react-khamzat-chimaev-announces-mma-hiatus-due-injury\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">hiatus from MMA<\/a> and is set to undergo surgery for a foot injury. He is expected to be out of action until the end of March, when Ramadan ends.<\/p>\n<p>Chimaev was last seen in action at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/mma\/news-ufc-319-dricus-du-plessis-vs-khamzat-chimaev-full-results\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">UFC 319<\/a>, where he captured the 185-pound title in a dominant unanimous decision win over Dricus du Plessis.<\/p>\n<p>Prochazka has been unsuccessful in reclaiming the title after relinquishing it due to an injury in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, he fought for the championship twice against Pereira, suffering knockout losses both times. If the rumors are true, this would be &#8216;BJP&#8217;s&#8217; fourth title shot in the UFC.<\/p>\n<p>Prochazka was last seen in his third-round knockout win over Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 320 in October.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Khamzat Chimaev reaffirms double champ ambitions<\/h2>\n<p>It appears that being a two-division champion or possibly capturing even more UFC titles is the number one priority for Khamzat Chimaev.<\/p>\n<p>During a recent segment on the <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/qrGbEWRAGnA?si=N9l1tJwtj55Ik9W5&amp;t=1542\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">JAXXON PODCAST<\/a>, Michael Bisping asked the 31-year-old whether he ever received any response from Alex Pereira after a plethora of calls out aimed at the Brazilian.<\/p>\n<p>Chimaev answered that while &#8216;Poatan&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/mma\/news-when-alex-pereira-dismissed-khamzat-chimaev-s-callout-explained-want-fight-borz-go-back-line\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">never entertained the matchup<\/a>, he would still like to fight for the light heavyweight gold, even if it was not against the hard-hitting kickboxer:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;[Pereira] never responded. We&#8217;ll see if anyone else [is ready to fight]. I just want to be a double champ. Then I can go back to my weight class, or stay [at light heavyweight], or go up more. I&#8217;m not the guy who is trying to go out of the UFC undefeated. I don&#8217;t care. I just want to get some things done.&#8221; [25:42 mark of the interview]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"article-post-rating-widget\">\n<p><template id=\"post-rating-feedback-modal-template\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-feedback-box\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-content\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-data\">\n<p>Why did you not like this content?<\/p>\n<p><textarea id=\"dislike-feedback-text\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Please type your feedback...\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<button class=\"close\">Cancel<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"submit\">Submit<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-widget-parent hidden\">\n<div class=\"rating-parent-container\">\n<div class=\"rating-content-holder\">\n<p>Was this article helpful?<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-action-container\">\n<div class=\"like-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-like-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"like\" title=\"like article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"like selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dislike-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-dislike-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"dislike\" title=\"dislike article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-dis-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"avatar selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\nThank You for feedback\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tag-cloud\">\n<div class=\"tags-text\">\n<div class=\"scrollable-content-holder  article-padding\">\n<p class=\"article-p  \">Quick Links<\/p>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerLeft\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Left \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img style=\"background: none;\" data-lazy=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-left.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button><\/p>\n<nav id=\"pnProductNav\" class=\"pn-ProductNav\">\n<\/nav>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerRight\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Right \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img style=\"background: none;\" data-lazy=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-right.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<p>More from Sportskeeda<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<span class=\"publisher-name\">Edited by Ujwal Jain<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/mma\/news-khamzat-chimaev-teases-light-heavyweight-move-sparks-jiri-prochazka-title-fight-rumors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Khamzat Chimaev has teased a move up in weight ever since winning the middleweight title. According to &#8216;Borz&#8217;s&#8217; latest social media update, such a move could be coming sooner than expected. Chimaev has been angling for a showdown against the reigning 205-pound kingpin Alex Pereira for some time, even suggesting he&#8217;d be willing to jump [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":229638,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6806],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-229637","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gossip"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=229637"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229637\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/229638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=229637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=229637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=229637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}