Khamzat Chimaev’s undefeated streak and UFC Middleweight Championship were unexpectedly broken at UFC 328 on May 9th, as he was outpointed by the underdog Sean Strickland in Newark. Chimaev had previously dominated Robert Whittaker and Dricus Du Plessis to claim the title. However, a significant weight cut and Strickland’s strong takedown defense led to Chimaev’s first title defense ending in a split decision loss.
Online betting platforms overwhelmingly favored Chimaev, listing him as a -500 favorite against Strickland, who was a +410 underdog. Despite surviving an early onslaught, Strickland controlled the fight from the second round onwards, ultimately securing a narrow victory.
Chimaev’s Impending Move to Light Heavyweight
In the post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White confirmed that Chimaev expressed a desire to move up to light heavyweight, attributing this decision to the strenuous weight cuts for middleweight. It’s remarkable that Chimaev, who competed at welterweight just four years prior, is now considering a move to the 205-pound division.
While Chimaev has alluded to a potential middleweight rematch with Strickland via social media, White’s statements suggest a move to light heavyweight is imminent. This raises the question: who would be an ideal first opponent for Chimaev in his new weight class? Here are three potential matchups:
AND NEWWWWWW +410 ✅
SEAN STRICKLAND IS THE MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMP #UFC328 pic.twitter.com/ivBUbTR0Rn
— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) May 10, 2026
Carlos Ulberg
Historically, UFC champions vacating their belts to move up in weight have often been granted immediate title shots in the new division. Examples include Ilia Topuria moving from featherweight to lightweight and Islam Makhachev from lightweight to welterweight. Alex Pereira is also slated for an interim heavyweight title shot after vacating his light heavyweight championship.
Carlos Ulberg is the current light heavyweight champion, having secured the vacant title with a first-round knockout of Jiří Procházka, even after sustaining an early injury. If the UFC were to offer Chimaev an immediate title opportunity in his light heavyweight debut, Ulberg would likely be his opponent.
However, a significant caveat exists. Topuria, Makhachev, and Pereira were all reigning champions when they moved up. Chimaev, having lost his middleweight title to Strickland, may not receive the same preferential treatment from the UFC.
Jiří Procházka
Rumors suggest that Chimaev’s aggressive weight cut for the Strickland fight was in preparation for a potential light heavyweight debut against Jiří Procházka. The plan was reportedly to move up to 205 pounds, but the UFC pivoted to a middleweight title defense against Strickland. Could this matchup now finally materialize?
Facing Procházka would be a strong debut for Chimaev in the light heavyweight division. Procházka, currently ranked third and coming off a title loss to Ulberg, represents a significant challenge. A victory over him would likely position Chimaev as the number one contender. Procházka has experienced three consecutive title fight losses, making him a formidable, albeit recently unsuccessful, contender.
Procházka appears to be a stylistically favorable opponent for Chimaev, who could potentially utilize his wrestling to secure a dominant win. If an immediate title shot isn’t on the table, Procházka stands out as an ideal opponent.
Paulo Costa
For a potentially lower-profile, yet still significant, debut, the UFC could consider seventh-ranked Paulo Costa. The outspoken Brazilian has frequently expressed his desire to fight Chimaev and “hurt” him, making their potential clash a compelling narrative.
Costa recently made a successful debut in the light heavyweight division, knocking out Azamat Murzakanov and climbing to seventh in the rankings. A fight between Chimaev and Costa would undoubtedly generate considerable attention, with the winner likely positioning themselves for a title shot.
The post Ranking the Most Likely Opponent for Khamzat Chimaev’s Light Heavyweight Debut first appeared on My MMA News.