Khamzat Chimaev (right)(image via YouTube)

By Kelsey Mowatt

Since Alex Pereira secured the UFC’s middleweight crown, Khamzat Chimaev hasn’t been shy in sharing his thoughts about the champ, and Jorge Masvidal isn’t having it.

Pereira became the promotion’s new middleweight champ in November, by stopping Israel Adesanya in round five. Following the memorable win, Chimaev let it be known he doesn’t see the feared striker as much of a challenge, and recently he repeated that assertion.

Masvidal recently appeared on “The MMA Hour” ahead of his April 8th bout with Gilbert Burns. While discussing Chimaev, however, Masvidal was quick to blast the undefeated fighter for badly missing weight at UFC 279. In addition, “Gamebred” laid into Chimaev over the comments he’s made about Pereira (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“F****** you miss weight by 8.5 pounds? Get the f*** out of here. And you’re still talking about, ‘Nobody wants to fight you,’ and all this. Go f****** make weight before we talk about fighting, bro,” said Masdvidal, after initially being asked to weigh-in on a potential fight between Chimaev and Colby Covington. ”

That’s the first thing. Don’t do steroids and make the f****** weight that you agreed upon as a f****** man. You’re going to miss by eight pounds and then you’re talking cool and you’re calling people out? Get the f*** out. And then I saw him do a comment that he was calling out [Alex] Pereira. Who the f*** are you? This is the world champion. You don’t even have a f****** win over a top-15 guy. Get the f*** out of here at 185.”

Chimaev was scheduled to fight Nate Diaz at the September 10th, UFC 279 card. But, the Chechen fighter came in 7.5 pounds over and the bout was cancelled. Chimaev ended up facing Kevin Holland instead, and submitted him in the first round. That fight took place at 180 pounds.

The only middleweights Chimaev has faced to date in the UFC have been John Phillips and Gerald Meerschaert, and Chimaev recorded submission and knockout victories, respectively.

Masvidal, meanwhile, is looking to get back on track, as the veteran fighter has dropped consecutive bouts to Kamaru Usman (twice) and the aforementioned, Covington.

A rematch between Pereira and Adesanya is headlining the April 8th, UFC 287 card, which is taking place in Miami.