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‘I don’t even know if UFC will book him for 170lbs’: Sean O’Malley questions the future of Khamzat Chimaev’s welterweight after a botched cut, but wonders if the undefeated star wants to clash with ‘big boys’ ‘ in the division above
- Khamzat Chimaev nearly crushed UFC 279 when he missed weight
- A botched cut led to doctors telling him to stop and the fights were rescheduled
- It has left many wondering if he can still compete at welterweight?
- Sean O’Malley said: ‘I don’t even know if UFC will book him at 170’
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Sean O’Malley doubts the UFC will approve a new fight for Khamzat Chimaev at the welterweight after his botched weight reduction messed up UFC 279.
Chimaev eventually tipped the scales over seven pounds over the limit, leading to his fight with Nate Diaz being switched at the 11th hour.
Instead, he dismantled Kevin Holland in a catchweight bout, and despite his incredible unbeaten run in the UFC, there are serious doubts that he can still compete in the welterweight.
Khamzat Chimaev missed weight at UFC 279, eventually beating Kevin Holland on a card that was reshuffled after his accident on the scales
Sean O’Malley doubts Chimaev has the ability to go back to welterweight
O’Malley, the rising bantamweight star, is one of those who doubt Chimaev’s ability to push himself to the limit.
“In my five-six years in the UFC, I’ve never had a doctor come to check on me while losing weight,” O’Malley said in his own words. Youtube Channel.
“I’m sure if they come to see me the last pound when I’m in the bathtub, they’ll probably say to everyone, ‘Whoa.’ When a doctor comes in, they’re not used to seeing people like that.
He continued: “I want to see him at 185 because even when he was fighting Gilbert Burns, he did the towel thing, dropped five pounds.
‘When was the last time Khamzat made 170? Not the last two fights, so it’s probably been over a year.
Chimaev is lifted onto the shoulders of one of his coaches as he celebrates his easy win
“I want to see his next fight, I’m so curious who it will be. It can’t be Colby [Covington]. He’s not going to make 170, dude. I just don’t see him – I don’t even know if UFC will book him for 170.
“But it doesn’t look like he wants to go to 185. That’s kind of surprising, because he’s big and super skilled. And he must be confident.
“I don’t know if he wants those fights up there. Those are big boys.’
Chimaev’s coach recently explained that his man came too heavy in the camp and apologized for the lack of professionalism.
However, he insisted that the Chechen-born phenom will still compete in the welterweight, despite recent evidence that the cut is being too much.
It will be fascinating to see if the UFC risks booking Chimaev into another high-profile fight in the division or pushes him to move up the ranks.
Chimaev went through the Netherlands like a knife through butter at UFC 279