Should the UFC Make a Middleweight Interim Title Match?
There has been a lot of drama recently about the status of the Middleweight Division and the injury of current champion Dricus Du Plessis. DDP was scheduled to main event UFC 317 against Khamzat Chimaev. Now, with DDP injured, a few athletes have thrown their names into the hat to face Chiamaev for a potential Interim Title fight. Should the UFC try to save their main event of UFC 317 with an Interim Title fight or wait for Dricus Du Plessis to get healthy? Let’s dive into some potential options.
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Caio Borralho
This potential matchup has been stirring up a lot of drama in the media recently. Caio Borralho has called his shot for an Interim Title fight against the boogeyman of the Middleweight Division. These two athletes have previously trained together as Borralho helped Chimaev get ready for his fight with Nate Diaz. Chimaev posted a video of him choking out Caio during training and stating, “If we fight 100 times, you will never win”. This has a lot of animosity brewing, and stylistically, this could be a really exciting fight. Both fighters are great wrestlers and grapplers, so this could be similar to the Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns fight. If the UFC decides to go the route of an Interim Title fight, this one already has the makings of an instant classic.
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Nassourdine Imavov
Nassourdine Imavov is currently ranked number one in the Middleweight Division after his impressive knockout win over former champion Israel Adesanya. He has been told that he is next in line after Chimaev for a title shot. However, with the champion going down, he could fall further behind if he decides to continue to wait. Imavov has impeccable striking ability and power, and he currently has a 78% takedown defense rating, so if he can keep any fighter on their feet, he has a great chance of winning. Chimaev is a different type of animal when it comes to wrestling and grappling. His aggression and relentlessness make him a matchup nightmare. If Imavov was willing to wait his turn and not fight Borralho, I’d be shocked if he accepted this fight without the UFC stripping him of his opportunity if he doesn’t.
