A former hunter is worried about what a victory of Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 would mean for the middleweight division.
The first UFC title shot from Chimaev is approaching rapidly, because the unbeaten phenomenon seems to have the 185-pound championship on 16 August in Chicago wrapping around its waist at the expense of Dricus du Plessis.
The chance was a long time ago for 'Borz'. While a trio of victories in his first three months in promotion had many people predict a rapid rise in title glory, frequent health problems and weight problems have delayed the climb of Chimaev.
For some, the memory of earlier withdrawals has remained prominent, and a UFC hunter is so pessimistic about the capacity of the Chechense to regularly fight that he fears the future of the middleweight division when he becomes his champion at UFC 319.
Din Thomas explains why Khamzat Chimaev Champion is becoming a 'disaster' for the UFC
During a recent performance on the Bohnfire podcast with MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn, former UFC Lichtweight Competer Din Thomas Vooruit looked at the next title fight of the promotion.
Many support 'Borz' to end the unbeaten run of the South African champion in the Octagon. Caio Borralho even thinks that Chimaev du Plessis could destroy as quickly as he did Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi last year.
If that flourishes, Thomas is taking care of the middleweight division, given the history of Chimaev of UFC retirements.
“I keep it a hundred,” Thomas started. “If Khamzat wins, it is actually a disaster.
'You can't tell me that some of you think: “This fight can't really happen. '… Some of these guys are simply common in terms of not getting the dance.
“If he pops up and he wins, do we trust that he can fight again?” Thomas went on. “We need movement. I hate it if it is just static and there is no movement in these divisions. To have movement there … the champions have to fight.
“If you are a champion and you are not willing to fight regularly … It's bad for the division, it's bad for the sport.”
Dricus Du Plessis expects to save the UFC from that potential problem
Fortunately for Thomas and his fears about the future of the division, the current middleweight King does not intend to give up his place on the throne.
Du Plessis sent Chimaev an ominous warning on social media months before their confrontation on August 16, and promised him by bringing a difficult experience that he still has to face in the Octagon.
“I don't care how good you think you are, how difficult, how fit or how strong,” wrote du Plessis on Instagram.
“When you step into that octagon with me, it will be a first experience and not a pleasant one.
“That is a promise. As we say in 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 ##stillknocks #prparetoweamazed.”