Joe Rogan sees promise in Khamzat Chimaev’s ability to excel in the UFC’s light heavyweight division. Chimaev, who spent much of his early career fighting at welterweight, has recently been aiming for a match against Alex Pereira, the top fighter at 205 pounds. Following his victory over Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320, Chimaev challenged the light heavyweight champion, sparking a lively exchange between the two on social media.
Rogan acknowledges the significant challenge of moving up 20 pounds from middleweight to light heavyweight but believes Chimaev can succeed if he carefully manages his weight gain. He emphasized the importance of addressing the skill gaps, especially in wrestling and grappling, noting that Chimaev would need to reach an Olympic-level wrestling standard to truly compete at this higher weight class.
In another topic, Joe Rogan dismissed Donald Trump’s ambitious plan to host multiple title fights at a UFC event at the White House, calling it “crazy.” He also criticized the ongoing feud involving Jon Jones, urging UFC president Dana White to reconcile with Jones, who had angered UFC management by breaking a lucrative contract before briefly retiring and returning after hearing about the June 14 event. Rogan stressed that it would be a huge missed opportunity if Jones was not part of the White House card.
Fan Take: This development around Khamzat Chimaev moving up to light heavyweight is thrilling for fight fans as it promises fresh matchups and new challenges for a rising star. Additionally, the drama surrounding the UFC White House event and Jon Jones highlights the high stakes and intense personalities that keep the sport engaging and unpredictable.
