Khamzat Chimaev has no plans to make a permanent switch to boxing, but there is one potential opponent he’d step into the ring for.
The UFC middleweight champion is closing in on his first title defence, nine months after taking the belt from Dricus du Plessis last August.
He’ll put his title on the line against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9. The outspoken American is aiming to become a two-time champion in the division.
Although Chimaev remains focused on Strickland, he did recently talk about his future outside MMA. One thing that caught his eye was a possible boxing match against one of the biggest names the sport has ever seen.
Khamzat Chimaev sees a boxing match with Conor McGregor as a big pay day
Chimaev’s win over Du Plessis at UFC 319 was built on control, holding dominant positions for more than 20 minutes. Even so, the champ has never doubted his striking ability.
The unbeaten Chechen famously needed just 17 seconds to knock out Gerald Meerschaert early in his UFC run, and he’d be interested in testing those hands again against someone who knows all about quick finishes.
Speaking to reporters ahead of his return at UFC 328, Chimaev brought up the idea of facing Conor McGregor under Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing banner.
“I’m not going to move over to boxing,” Chimaev said. “I will be forever a UFC fighter.
“Maybe if Zuffa (Boxing) gives the chance, box with Conor, or if Conor wants to accept that. It would be nice. Why not?
“Conor is a good boxer, one of the best boxers in the UFC,” he continued. “It would be nice to try and go fight that guy. Good money, too. He talks better than Sean Strickland. It would be fun.”
McGregor is lined up for a return at UFC 329 during International Fight Week in Las Vegas this year.
The Irish star hasn’t fought since 2021 and has only made four appearances since crossing over to box Floyd Mayweather back in 2017.
A number of fighters have tried pushing for crossover bouts with McGregor since then, but Dana White doesn’t seem interested and has already dismissed any talk of UFC fighters making appearances in Zuffa Boxing events.
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