Dana White is a big fan of Khamzat Chimaev, which is why the fighter has his next two fights in the UFC already lined up.
However, it was thought that one of those fights would happen in Las Vegas and the other in Fight Island, but White says both will happen in Las Vegas.
“I don’t know how that played out, but that’s how we’re doing it,” White said after Contender Series Episode 32 (via Mike Heck of MMA Fighting). “I told these guys, ‘Get him two fights. Get him one here in Vegas and one on Fight Island,’ and he’s fighting both here. I don’t know why we’re doing that, but whatever. It’s all good.”
Chimaev’s next fight is against Gerald Meerschaert at UFC Vegas 11, while the Demian Maia bout doesn’t have a confirmed date at this time.
White also says the reason that Chimaev was double booked is that the fighter just wants to keep on fighting.
“The thing is the guy wants to keep fighting,” White said. “He wants all these fights back-to-back. It’s no disrespect to his opponent, he’s either gonna win or lose. That has nothing to do with us. That’s up to them. But to do that, really fight two fights in a row, you have to book them. For a guy like him, I would never do that for somebody else. I’d be like, ‘Relax, let’s see if you get through this fight.’ But from what I’ve seen from him, I’m willing to do that with him.”
UFC Vegas 11 is set for Saturday, September 19 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada with Colby Covington and Tyron Woodley headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, while broadcast plans have yet to be revealed.
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