Getty UFC star Khamzat Chimaev celebrates win.
Rising UFC superstar Khamzat Chimaev hasn’t enjoyed an easy path to getting his next opponent lined up, but a former welterweight contender and currently ranked middleweight said he would give Chimaev the fight he wants after his next bout was over. UFC middleweight contender Darren Till revealed that stunning bit of news via social media on Saturday.
Till posted, “Rankings have never mattered in the @Ufc @KChimaev after I destroy jack in December, if you are still struggling to get a match. I’ll give you a go at the big boys son!!!”
ALL the latest UFC news straight to your inbox! Subscribe to the Heavy on UFC newsletter here!
Till is currently ranked No. 6 in the UFC’s 185-pound division. The 27-year-old from Liverpool is scheduled to face that division’s No. 4-ranked contender, Jack Hermansson, on December 5 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
While that’s a tough fight in its own right, Till obviously expects to win there and be ready to welcome Chimaev to the “big boys” club soon after.
That Must Be Music To Chimaev’s Ears
Till being willing to fight him must be music to Chimaev’s ears.
After all, the terrifyingly destructive force has made mincemeat out of his competition in the UFC up to this point and so much so that it’s been super hard for him to get his next fight booked.
Chimaev was supposedly double-booked before his epic first-round knockout over Gerald Meerschaert blew that plan up.
His incredible 17-second destruction of a tough veteran opponent had UFC president Dana White posting “HOOOOOOOLY F****** S***!!!!!!!!!!” via Twitter and the rest of the UFC world of likely next opponents looking for other options.
BELIEVE THE HYPE 💯
@KChimaev is FOR. REAL. #UFCVegas11
Just one day before Till volunteered for the gig nobody else seems to want, Chimaev claimed two notable contenders had turned him down: Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and Chris Weidman.
Chimaev posted, “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.’
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
So things had obviously been super frustrating for the rising superstar, and now he has something to be happy about.
Follow the Heavy on UFC Facebook page for the latest breaking news, rumors and content!
Chimaev’s Call Outs Are Already Legendary
Chimaev is only 3-0 in UFC fights but that hasn’t kept him from dreaming big already.
The 26-year-old has been calling out anyone and everyone since his arrival in the UFC over the summer, including UFC superstars Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Nick Diaz, Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya.
But not only has he not landed those gigs, but he can’t even seem to land any that might actually give him the chance to earn those spots opposite some of the biggest and best UFC fighters in the business.
Chimaev posted, “I can’t get Welterweight fight I’m going to start calling out middleweight @danawhite @Mickmaynard2.”
I can’t get Welterweight fight I’m going to start calling out middleweight @danawhite @Mickmaynard2
Chimaev’s manager also recently posted about how hard it has been to find Chimaev his next opponent.
That manager, Ali Abdelaziz, posted, “I want to give everyone an update about @KChimaev next fight the ufc is working very hard to get an opponent. One opponent said called in sick, another one changed his citizenship so he could not be allowed to the US without visa. And the 3rd guy said he was too old.”
I want to give everyone an update about @KChimaev next fight the ufc is working very hard to get an opponent. One opponent said called in sick, another one changed his citizenship so he could not be allowed to the US without visa. And the 3rd guy said he was too old. 😂
But it appears their search is finally over.
Till would represent a massive jump up in class from the types of competition Chimaev has faced so far in his UFC career.
To that same point, facing welterweight contender Neil Mangy, who also said he’d be “ready to scrap” with Chimaev, would also be a huge leap up.
But after seeing Till’s planned next three fights in a photo the middleweight tweeted later the same day, Chimaev indicated his willingness to make the intriguing bout against Till happen.
“I will be ready,” Chimaev posted.
Chimaev wants to be a superstar. Beating Till would start bringing him closer to that goal.
READ NEXT: Holly Holm: ‘I Did Something Everybody Saw’
Twitter: @Kelsey_McCarson
YouTube: Real Talk with Kelsey and Rachel
Comments
Ranked Contender Dares Khamzat Chimaev: ‘I’ll Give You a Go!’