Kamaru Usman presses Khamzat Chimaev fight, but Khamzat looking elsewhere

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is looking for a fight. One that will put him back into position to challenge for the belt. His current target? Khamzat Chimaev, who seems to be looking elsewhere for his next fight.

Is Khamzat Chimaev vs. Jared Cannonier up next?

Usman was one of the most dominant UFC champions in history, until he ran up against a brick wall named Leon Edwards. Having lost the belt to Edwards and failing to regain it in an immediate rematch, Usman wants his next fight to be one that can help him make a case for another shot at regaining the belt.

Ranked No. 4 at welterweight, Chimaev is just such an opponent, but it doesn’t look like he will be Usman’s next opponent. 

Usman and Chimaev have been jawwing on social media, but nothing has developed from that chatter. Instead, one of Chimaev’s coaches recently posted him studying footage of a fighter believed to be Jared Cannonier. Azamat “Ozzy” Dugulubgov’s post said, “Already studying the next opponent for the Borz.”

Chimaev has been playing the field at welterweight and middleweight since he joined the UFC ranks. At middleweight, he wouldn’t have to go through the struggles of a drastic weight cut to 170 pounds. 

Currently unranked at middleweight, Chimaev could make an immediate splash by defeating the No. 3 ranked Cannonier.

As of the time of publication, there was no confirmation on the next bout for Chimaev or Usman.