Chael Sonnen Claims Khamzat Chimaev May Face Rejection on Middleweight Title Shot in One Scenario

Khamzat Chimaev has vowed to capture UFC gold in 2025, but his path to the title is far from guaranteed. Many in the MMA fandom were assured of Chimaev’s title shot after he derailed Robert Whittaker’s resurgence tour. Moreover, Dana White has already confirmed that Chimaev will make his return to the U.S. for a fight.

However, there are growing concerns about the UFC’s matchmaking strategy. Why? Despite Chimaev’s undefeated streak and his continued success, the promotion has opted to rebook the closely contested title fight between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis from UFC 297. This decision is controversial, especially considering that ‘Tarzan’ has only secured one lackluster win since losing his title to Du Plessis, while Chimaev has maintained a perfect record and proven himself as a dominant force in the division.

While ‘Borz’ is still expected to face the winner of Strickland vs. Du Plessis, there’s a lingering question: what if fans demand yet another rematch? This could throw a wrench in the UFC’s plans, potentially delaying Chimaev’s title shot even further. Former UFC fighter and analyst Chael Sonnen believes that Borz’s title hopes could very well be derailed if a situation like this arises.

Speaking on the matter, he explained: “Let’s not get to can he [Khamzat] get to win the championship, will he win the championship? Let’s not do that. Let’s take his undefeated record and let that be upheld. Can we get him to the ring? Can we get him in the ring opposite the champion? That’s gonna be either Dricus or that’s gonna be Sean. Now, the one caveat, the one wrench that can be thrown into the plan of the No. 1 contender is what happens with the fight that we got? What happens if the fight that is coming up is controversial? Or it’s awesome? What if you, the public, demand a rematch?”

Sonnen also warned that Chimaev’s hopes of fighting the winner of DDP vs. Strickland could be jeopardized if unforeseen circumstances, such as an injury arise. In that case, the Chechen wolf’s title shot might be derailed entirely, throwing another roadblock in his carefully laid plans.

‘The Bad Guy’ went a step further. He shared that he would love to see Chimaev face Bo Nickal, despite the significant disparity in their rankings. However, it’s important to note that DDP, Strickland, and Nickal aren’t the only potential options for Chimaev.

Will Chimaev destroy yet another former champion on his way to the title?

Israel Adesanya has had his eye on Khamzat Chimaev since 2023. During an appearance on Logan Paul’s ‘IMPAULSIVE’ podcast, Adesanya discussed the possibility of facing Chimaev when he was still the middleweight champion. Chimaev, however, has never been shy about his feelings toward Adesanya. He has openly mocked the former champion, suggesting that the UFC protects him, and boldly claiming that if they ever fought, he would finish him.

In an interview with MMA Junkie, ‘Borz’ had claimed, “For Israel, there’s nobody there – only me. So if you spoke about money, if you ask the fans, they want to see me and Israel. I’m a bad matchup for him. Everyone knows he’s going to lose the title [to me]. That’s why they save that guy.”

With Adesanya no longer holding the belt and coming off a loss to Nassourdine Imavov, the idea of Chimaev facing Izzy has become more tantalizing. This could be a match that would definitely interest Dana White. He might find it compelling to pit the former champ against the #3-ranked Chimaev. However, Izzy’s recent dip in form could prove fatal against an unstoppable force like Chimaev.

The question now is whether Chimaev will get the title shot he’s been angling for. Will he fight the winner of DDP vs. Strickland, or will he have to wait yet again for his opportunity? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!