Khamzat Chimaev Warned to Stay at 185-Pounds by Israel Adesanya’s 205-Pound Teammate

Israel Adesanya's teammate, Carlos Ulberg, is on the verge of a title shot, and has given a warning to Khamzat Chimaev.

Khamzat Chimaev Warned to Stay at 185-Pounds by Israel Adesanya’s 205-Pound Teammate

Carlos Ulberg warns Khamzat Chimaev (via MMA Mania, Bloody Elbow)

In Short
  • Khamzat Chimaev aims to move up to light heavyweight to pursue a second title.
  • Carlos Ulberg warns Chimaev that he may be too small for the 205-pound division.
  • Chimaev is currently sidelined due to knee surgery and observing Ramadan.

Becoming a two-division champion has become common in the UFC as elite fighters pursue legacy-defining achievements. Middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev has expressed ambitions to move up in weight to chase another title. He has been linked to a potential clash with 205-pound champion Alex Pereira. However, #3-ranked light heavyweight Carlos Ulberg recently sent a warning to the Chechen star.

Ulberg is currently riding a nine-fight win streak in the UFC light heavyweight division. He has grown increasingly vocal about earning a title shot since his knockout victory over Dominick Reyes at UFC Perth in September 2025. The New Zealand striker has finished six of his last nine opponents during this surge. That run of stoppages has significantly strengthened his case for a championship opportunity.

Chimaev won the middleweight title at UFC 319 and immediately began pursuing a second championship. He has set his sights on the light heavyweight title in an effort to become a two-division titleholder in the UFC. Chimaev also stated he is willing to fully bulk up to 205 pounds if Pereira does not drop to middleweight. However, Ulberg recently dismissed that ambition while asserting his own claim.

He’s too small. Stay in your lane brother, handle your business over there and I’ll handle mine here. 205 is mine!

Carlos Ulberg via Combat Sports Network

Ulberg questioned Chimaev’s size for the light heavyweight division, arguing that the Chechen champion may be undersized at 205 pounds. His stance aligns with concerns previously raised by UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier about the physical strain of such a jump. DC noted that ‘Borz’ began his UFC career at welterweight, making a two-division leap more demanding than Pereira’s move up from middleweight.

Since his knockout victory over Reyes, Ulberg has remained vocal about earning a 205-pound title shot. He has expressed readiness to make history if granted a championship opportunity. The New Zealand native also offered to serve as the backup for Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev 2 at UFC 320. The proposal came just one week after UFC Perth, underscoring his urgency to fight for the title.

Alex Pereira has shown little concrete interest in either matchup at this stage. Instead of committing to an MMA bout with Khamzat Chimaev, ‘Poatan’ floated the idea of a charity grappling match. Chimaev did not respond favorably, viewing the suggestion as dismissive of his ambitions. Meanwhile, Carlos Ulberg remains focused on solidifying his own path to the title, underscoring the reason for his warning to ‘Borz’.

Khamzat Chimaev sends a scary warning to controversial middleweight

After winning the middleweight title with a dominant victory over Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319, Khamzat Chimaev has been sidelined following knee surgery. He is also observing Ramadan, adjusting his routine during the month of fasting. Despite the layoff, he has remained active on social media, calling out potential opponents. However, his most recent target seems to be former champion Sean Strickland.

Khamzat Chimaev talks about why he is not fighting
Khamzat Chimaev talks about why he is not fighting (via MMA Mania)

Strickland recently earned a third-round TKO victory over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston, snapping Hernandez’s eight-fight winning streak. The win reinserted Strickland into the middleweight title picture with a decisive performance. Following the bout, he publicly called out Chimaev for a championship clash. The Chechen star later responded on X with a brief message, continuing his online back-and-forth.

See you soon boy.

Khamzat Chimaev via X

Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland were once teammates and close friends, frequently showing mutual respect in public. Their relationship began to sour after the controversial middleweight started mocking Chimaev online, due to a crypto scam. The ongoing rivalry has attracted significant attention, but it remains uncertain whether the tension will be resolved inside the Octagon.

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