Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Chris Weidman, Conor McGregor, Donald Cerrone, Nate Diaz. The list of fighters called out by Khamzat Chimaev seems to grow by the week. But now one of those names uttered by the Chechen-born Swede has answered the challenge, and said he’s ready to step into the cage with “The Wolf.”
Chimaev (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) tweeted last week to tell his followers that both “Wonderboy” and Weidman had been offered fights with him, but both had turned them down.
I just want to let my fans know and the people who support me the ufc offer me wonder boy and he turned it down at 170 and also chris Weidman at 185 who also turned it down. I’m coming for everyone
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) October 9, 2020
However, former UFC middleweight champion Weidman (15-5 UFC, 11-5 UFC) hopped on Twitter early Friday morning to tell the UFC that he’s ready to take on Chimaev, and “The All American” vowed to humble the undefeated newcomer.
“This guy Chimeav needs some humbling would love to do that. January I’m in! @ufc make this happen,” he tweeted.
This guy Chimeav needs some humbling would love to do that. January I’m in! @ufc make this happen.
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) October 16, 2020
Chimaev has made a big impression since his arrival in the UFC. He submitted middleweight John Phillips, then TKO’d welterweight Rhys McKee, in the space of just 10 days on “UFC Fight Island” in July, then followed up those victories with a 17-second knockout of Gerald Meerschaert at UFC on ESPN+ 36 in Las Vegas in September.
Weidman, meanwhile, is looking to rediscover some momentum in the UFC’s 185-pound division. The former champion has gone 2-4 inside the octagon since he lost his title to Luke Rockhold in December 2015, but picked up a much-needed unanimous decision win over Omari Akhmedov at UFC on ESPN+ 32 in August to halt a two-fight skid.