UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira of Brazil explained the benefits for Khamzat Chimaev of their light-heavyweight bout.
Chimaev doesn't want to fight at welterweight because he's already going to be the next challenger, and if he loses, he loses everything. The best option for him right now is to fight me at light heavyweight. Stop running.
Alex Pereira
Pereira, 35, defeated Israel Adesanya on Nov. 13 at UFC 281 to become the promotion's middleweight champion. In July, 2022, at UFC 276, Alex defeated Sean Strickland by TKO in the first round. He has seven wins and one loss under his belt.
The 28-year-old Chimaev defeated Kevin Holland by first-round choke at UFC 279 this September. At UFC 273, held in April 2022, Khamzat defeated Gilbert Burns by unanimous decision. He has 12 wins and no losses on his record.