In a surprising move, Khamzat Chimaev has issued a challenge to former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, for a grappling match outside of the UFC.
Despite the significant weight difference between the two, ‘Borz’ took to Twitter and called out ‘The Predator’ for a potential matchup.
Chimaev, who is about 100 pounds lighter than Ngannou, was last seen in the octagon back in September of last year against Kevin Holland at UFC 279.
In contrast, Ngannou’s last inside the octagon was against Ciryl Gane in January last year, after which he left the UFC following an unsuccessful contract renewal and has been a free agent since then.
Chimaev’s grappling
A while ago, Chimaev’s training in Thailand has caught the attention of many, as numerous videos of his sparring sessions have been shared online. Although Chimaev is already known for his grappling skills, the ease with which he handles Bellator star in this particular video is still pretty incredible.
In the video, Chimaev impressively stuffs Mousah’s takedown attempts by working on getting underhooks while disrupting his head position to break his posture and prevent the takedown. Chimaev then secures two underhooks and works to get on Mousah’s back, picks him up, and takes him down before transitioning into an armbar. The sequence is really beautiful to watch.
A few months prior, Chimaev displayed his wrestling capabilities when he defeated Jack Hermansson in freestyle wrestling.
Ngannou’s Next Move
After leaving UFC, Ngannou has been searching for a new promotion to sign with. Most recently, the former heavyweight champion had negotiations with the CEO of ONE Championship, Chatri Sityodtong.
Despite not being able to come to terms with ONE Championship, it seems like Ngannou has found a new home.
According to Ariel Helwani, the former UFC heavyweight champion is on the verge of signing a deal with the PFL. Helwani claimed that Ngannou’s negotiations with ONE Championship ended because he had already verbally committed to someone else.
