Khamzat Chimaev won’t be upset if the UFC give Conor McGregor a welterweight title shot before him.
Former UFC two-division champion McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) recently stated he’s eyeing a clash with 170-pound titleholder Kamaru Usman upon his return to competition this year, an idea that UFC president Dana White didn’t immediately dismiss.
“If he wanna be back, if he need some help then, we’re here,” Chimaev said on his YouTube channel. “If he wanna fight Usman, I think it maybe can happen because the guy is so famous. They can make money, good money, both. That’s why if they wanna fight, both, I think the UFC wanna make it.”
Before getting serious consideration for his own crack at gold, Chimaev (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) must first get past Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 on April 9. He fully expects to be next in line for a title shot with a win – unless he’s passed up for McGregor.
Chimaev, who’s developed a well publicized friendship with Darren Till, even offered to help the Irish superstar prepare for the potential fight.
“When I finish Gilbert Burns, I think I am the next for title,” Chimaev added. “But this is the business. Who’s the famous, makes more money, they choose them. I understand that, but we’ll see what’s gonna happen. If he wanna come and train with us, he’s welcome.”
McGregor hasn’t seen actions since his trilogy-fight loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July.
“The Notorious” suffered a broken leg in his first-round TKO loss, and has been on the mend since. He recently stated he should be cleared for a return to full sparring in April.
