UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev says he’s open to stepping into a boxing ring with Conor McGregor under the Zuffa Boxing banner while remaining on the UFC roster.
Chimaev, who is 15-0 in MMA and 9-0 in the UFC, is set for his first title defense against Sean Strickland in the UFC 328 main event on May 9 in Newark, N.J., but made it clear his ambitions also include a money-spinning crossover bout.
"I'm not going to move over to boxing. I will be forever a UFC fighter. But maybe if Zuffa (Boxing) gives the chance, box with Conor, or if Conor wants to accept that," Chimaev said. "It would be nice. Why not?"
Chimaev praised McGregor’s skills and star power, adding: "Conor is a good boxer, one of the best boxers in the UFC," and, "It would be nice to try and go fight that guy. Good money, too. He talks better than Sean Strickland, so it would be fun."
McGregor previously boxed Floyd Mayweather in 2017 while under UFC contract, losing by Round 10 TKO, and famously knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds to become UFC featherweight champion. Chimaev said McGregor’s earnings from the Aldo fight lit the spark for his own career: "When I saw that fight, I heard about how much he made," he said. "That's why I got motivated to start MMA. It's cool to see. It would be cool. Why should it be personal? He never did bad things to me."
