Joe Rogan believes Khamzat Chimaev can succeed in the UFC’s light heavyweight division. The middleweight standout spent most of his early career fighting at welterweight. In recent months, he has focused on challenging the best 205-pound fighter in the world, Alex Pereira. Chimaev called out the light heavyweight champion after defeating Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320, sparking a heated exchange between the two stars on social media.
Joe Rogan Backs Chimaev at Light Heavyweight
Rogan understands that moving up 20 pounds from middleweight to light heavyweight poses challenges. The UFC commentator says Chimaev must respect the weight jump if he wants to thrive in a third division. “I think he can do it,” Rogan said on his podcast. “He can succeed if he takes his time and adds weight strategically. He is tall, and the differences in wrestling and grappling matter when facing top fighters. Taking on someone like Dricus [du Plessis], who excels as a striker, requires preparation. Chimaev has strong grappling and jiu-jitsu, but there are different levels. To compete with fighters like that, you must reach an Olympic level in wrestling.”
Rogan on the UFC White House Card
Rogan mocked former President Donald Trump’s plan to stage eight or nine title fights at the UFC White House event. The podcaster called the entire idea a “travesty” if one MMA legend does not participate. Rogan urged UFC president Dana White to set aside past issues with Jon Jones, who angered the UFC by canceling a $30 million fight with Tom Aspinall before briefly retiring and then unretiring after learning about the June 14 event. “If they skip Jon Jones at the White House, it would be a travesty,” Rogan said. “They need to make it happen. Dana says, ‘You can’t count on him.’ You absolutely can. Come on. At the White House? That’s the moment!”
