Chimaev waiting for next fight: 'These guys are scared'
Khamzat Chimaev is finding it difficult to get his next opponent lined up.
The UFC's hottest prospect has said he believes there were several fighters in the middleweight and welterweight divisions who don't want to face him.
"I'm waiting for somebody," Chimaev told reporters Thursday when asked for an update on his next fight, according to MMA Fighting. "We will see. I have many guys that said, 'He's not top 10, nobody knows him.' Everybody talks about me, how can they say that nobody knows me? I think these guys are scared. It's all bullshit."
Chimaev last stepped into the Octagon at UFC Fight Night on Sept. 19 when he knocked out veteran Gerald Meerschaert in 17 seconds. "Borz" is 3-0 in the promotion after making his debut on Fight Island this past summer.
UFC president Dana White told ESPN's Brett Okamoto on Wednesday that Chimaev is currently the most difficult athlete to schedule and added that Neil Magny is one of the only fighters who is open to a fight with Chimaev.
White has said the promotion is planning on a Chimaev main event in November or December, but a date hasn't been confirmed.
"Listen, let me give respect where respect is due," White said. "Neil Magny has said, 'I will fight him.' So, much respect to Neil."
Chimaev said he's willing to fight Magny and named Darren Till, Chris Weidman, and Demian Maia as other opponents he'd like to face.
"Neil Magny said he wants to fight with me. I said, 'Let's go, rock 'n roll,'" Chimaev said. "So, we will see. Maybe (I will fight) him, maybe somebody else, I don't know."
Chimaev was expected to fight Maia after beating Meerschaert, but the UFC opted to move away from that booking. Till expressed interest in the Chimaev fight last week, but he's scheduled to meet Jack Hermansson in December. Chimaev claimed Weidman, a former middleweight champion, turned him down.
"Maybe I choke him out and get the black belt," Chimaev said of a potential fight with Maia. "We will see. If he wants to fight with me, I am ready."