Las Vegas, NV — Khamzat Chimaev may need to move to middleweight following his weigh-in debacle ahead of UFC 279.
That’s per UFC President Dana White, who addressed the issue during the event’s post-fight press conference on Saturday.
“It’s a problem. That’s a problem, that he missed weight. I don’t know,” White said when asked about what happens next with Chimaev. “We’ve got to look at it and figure it out. What makes sense is for him to fight at 180.”
White later clarified to Cageside Press that it would mean a move to middleweight, with no further catchweight bookings, as was the case in Chimaev vs. Kevin Holland at UFC 279. “That’s what I meant. No more catchweight fights.”
Having said that, White isn’t closing the door on Khamzat at welterweight entirely. Asked about a potential fight between “Borz” and Colby Covington, White replied by saying that “Obviously there’s a lot of possibilities for him, possibly at 170 or at 185.”
White also addressed online conspiracy theories that the UFC had intentionally scrapped the fight between Chimaev and Nate Diaz to secure a more competitive booking between Diaz and Tony Ferguson. Throughout fight week, Chimaev engaged in multiple backstage altercations, then badly blew weight, necessitating a change in opponents.
“There’s some f*cking lunatics on the internet that think that this was all staged and planned and whatever,” White exclaimed. “If you think that the crazy dudes that we had here this week could be orchestrated into something that would be— you’re literally out of your mind. This all happened, and we had to deal with it. I just couldn’t wait to get tonight over with.”
Diaz, meanwhile, has fought for the UFC for possibly the last time. White had nothing but warm words for the welterweight star following his submission win over Ferguson.
“No matter what Nate does from here on out, this is his house. He’s been here forever. It’s been a blast having him here, and i wish him well,” White stated. “He and I had this discussion months ago at the offices. Whatever he moves on to do, I wish him nothing but the best. If he’s starting his own organization or getting into promoting or doing something else, I wish him nothing but the best of luck. It’s been awesome having him here.”
Watch the full UFC 279 post-fight press conference with Dana White above.
