Kamaru Usman, the ex-UFC welterweight champion, has called out Khamzat Chimaev.
Those words arrive on the back end of Usman losing in succession to Leon Edwards. In their first bout, Usman was knocked out by a head kick in the fifth round.
The rematch was closer, but Edwards emerged as the winner via a majority decision. Despite his poor form, Usman is targeting Chimaev.
The latter has been out of action since he beat Kevin Holland with a first-round submission.
Further troubles followed, thereafter, as Chimaev failed to make weight for his fight against Nate Diaz at welterweight, raising doubts over his capability to fight at the weight class.
With that being said, Usman was questioned about the possibility of fighting Chimaev at 185 pounds.
“What’s the biggest, funnest, most intense fight that really makes me feel (excited)? That’s the fight, right there.
“If he wants a shot at the welterweight strap, you kinda have to give a little bit and say, ‘Hey, I can get down here.’ So, if he’s able to do it, yeah, potentially.
“And if it’s up a weight, yeah, potentially as well. That is the number one fight, the biggest one out there that makes sense. That’s a pay-per-view in itself,” Usman
Usman has made it clear that his main objective is to regain a title, and if that means facing Chimaev along the way, then so be it.