Khamzat Chimaev has been told that he will probably be posted when it comes to one of his most important UFC ambitions.
After a multitude of health problems stopped, which was initially a rapid increase in the UFC, Chimaev is finally approaching his first chance to secure the champion status in the Octagon.
Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis in the main event of UFC 319 in Chicago on August 16, looking for middleweight King in the first time trying. And the title ambitions of the Chechen star do not stop there.
If he conquered the 185-pound crown in the 'Windy City' this month, 'Borz' plans to write history by adding the welterweight and light heavyweight titles to his collection.
Such an achievement would make Chimaev the very first Triple champion of the UFC, but a legend expects another star to come there first …
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Chael Sonnen chooses Alex Pereira above Khamzat Chimaev as the best Triple-Champ Hoop of UFC
While Chimaev still has to protect one of his targeted three championships, one UFC star is only one of the first three-weight king of the Promotion-Alex Pereira.
Pereira played Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 to add the light heavyweight gold to a trophy cabinet that already contained the middleweight belt. With that, the Brazilian had reached the Brazilian only two years after his octagonal career.
The Brazilian seemed to leave that with sufficient time for a much -discussed heavyweight company, and Chael Sonnen expects that it will come sooner.
“I really believe that Pereira is the most likely (three-division champion),” said Sonnen on Good Guy/Bad Guy, before he mentioned another competition for the history performance above Chimaev.
“Now I am (also) a really good look at Ilia Topuria, the things he does and the size and power he has. I also have to place the youth next to each other … but we are years away from him who get that chance.
“I think Alex Pereira is going to slide to heavyweight. I think he is going to heavyweight or loses this next fight,” Sonnen went on. “In many ways it is better for pro-heavyweight Pereira fans such as (Magomed) Ankalaev has to beat him again.
“Shall we see a three (division) champion in you (Daniel Cormier) or the generation of I? Yes, we will do that.”
Alex Pereira is not aimed at fulfilling the prediction of Chael Sonnen – but still
At points in recent months it appeared that Pereira was preparing for a heavyweight movement when pursuing the status of three-division champion. But that conversation was put on the back burner when his next fight was officially announced.
After Pereira was dethroned by Magomed Ankalaev, the Brazilian will get an immediate chance of redemption on UFC 320 on 4 October. Pereira will challenge Ankalaev in the main event, with Merab Dvalishvili's Bantamweight Title weather against Cory Sandhagen Co-headlining.
'Patan' is currently aimed at regaining one of the two titles that he has held in the UFC so far instead of reaching a third party. But if the kickboxing connects large to that chase along the line, his coach has suggested that it will not be long before his team will adequately prepare the heavy Pereira for a new movement in weight.