Khamzat Chimaev’s Toughest Opponent Reveals Only Chance to Dethrone Newly Crowned Champ

An old rival of Khamzat Chimaev warned the newly crowned champion of a potential threat that he could face in the middleweight division.

Khamzat Chimaev’s Toughest Opponent Reveals Only Chance to Dethrone Newly Crowned Champ

Gilbert Burns believes Khamzat Chimaev can struggle against Reinier de Ridder (via X)

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The UFC middleweight division has experienced massive changes in the last few months, and it is currently ruled by Khamzat Chimaev. The ‘Borz’ beat Dricus Du Plessis to win the title, and is ready to defend his title against anybody. After his last impressive victory, many fans strongly believe the Chechen fighter will be difficult to dethrone, though challengers certainly remain.

Following his win, Khamzat Chimaev has been called out by several top-ranked middleweight contenders who are desperate for a title opportunity. Among them, former One FC double champion Reinier de Ridder currently holds the #4 rank in the division and aims for a title shot. In a recent interview, Chimaev’s old rival, Gilbert Burns, shared thoughts about ‘RDR’ and his chances against Chimaev.

From the whole division. I think he’s the one that has more chance. I think he can win. I think his Jiu-jitsu is high level. I have trained with him couple time. He’s very good, very long, very big. He’s huge.

Gilbert Burns via Buiten De Kooi

Apart from fighting, Burns is an MMA content creator, and he often talks about fights on his YouTube. He mentioned that during a recent interview, Khamzat Chimaev’s BJJ coach regarded RDR as potentially the toughest challenge for Chimaev. The Dutchman first rose to prominence outside UFC, dominating opponents in ONE FC, where he captured middleweight and light heavyweight championships.

His grappling credentials are incredible, consistently taking opponents down and securing dangerous positions to hunt for submissions, showing a style similar to BJJ expert Demian Maia. Reinier de Ridder’s victory against Robert Whittaker was a statement, as he neutralized striking and secured dominant positions effectively.

Against Bo Nickal, he showcased superior experience, countering wrestling exchanges and forcing submission threats in an impressive all-round showcase. De Ridder’s ability to control bigger fighters inside the octagon highlights his versatility and immense physical strength, making him dangerous.

Chimaev is well known for unpredictable takedowns, while RDR remains a dangerous submission threat, creating stylistically fascinating scenarios. This potential title matchup stands among the most intriguing possibilities, joining a few other exciting contenders who could challenge Khamzat Chimaev’s title. 

UFC middleweight race to fight Khamzat Chimaev

Recently, Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho went against each other in a close war at the UFC Paris main event. Imavov won the fight via unanimous decision, extended his winning streak, and called out Khamzat Chimaev immediately afterwards. ‘Borz’ was also impressed by the Frenchman’s performance and acknowledged his title contention after the impressive, hard-fought showing.

Reinier de Ridder beats Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines
Reinier de Ridder beats Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines ( vai X)

While many fans wanted Imavov to fight Khamzat Chimaev, the upcoming main event between Reinier de Ridder and Anthony Hernandez was also important. The fight was scheduled for UFC Vancouver, but unfortunately, ‘Fluffy’ has decided to pull out due to a last-minute injury. Recently, the fighter took to social media to update his fans and thank Brendan Allen for coming as a substitute.

I’ve had to pull out of my upcoming fight due to injury. I want to sincerely apologize to the UFC, to my opponent, and to everyone who was looking forward to this matchup. I also want to thank (Allen) for stepping up, it means a lot. To my fans, thank you for always tuning in, supporting me, and riding with me through everything.

Anthony Hernandez via Instagram 

Reinier de Ridder chose not to bash Hernandez but instead shared his support, respectfully wishing him a safe and speedy recovery. Nevertheless, Allen is currently ranked #11 in the UFC middleweight division and carries momentum with him after recent performances. He previously beat former title challenger Marvin Vettori in his last outing at UFC 318.

The win was extremely important since it helped Allen recover fully from his previous two consecutive losses inside the octagon. Going into the fight, RDR is the betting favorite, but Allen still has the opportunity to shock everyone with an upset.

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