Navajo
Stirling believes Khamzat
Chimaev is a one-dimensional fighter.

After Chimaev suffered the first loss of his professional career,
the hype surrounding the former
Ultimate Fighting Championship champion has dampened. Stirling
recently called him a “one-trick pony†and wants Chimaev to move up
to light heavyweight so they can fight.

Why Navajo Stirling Believes Khamzat Chimaev Isn’t a Complete
Fighter

While Stirling acknowledges that Chimaev would bring much attention
to the 205-pound division, the unbeaten Kiwi wants to expose how
“Borz†isn't a well-rounded fighter.

“I think he's a bit of a one-trick pony,†Stirling told Full Send
MMA. “I would love to fight him. I want to test my theory against
someone like that. I would love for some bigger names to come to
the division that could bring some hype.â€

Chimaev was undefeated and a massive betting favorite going into
his first middleweight title defense against Sean
Strickland at
UFC 328 this past May. However, he visibly gassed out after a
failed takedown attempt in the second round and completely
abandoned his wrestling thereafter.

Strickland then out-landed Chimaev on the feet en route to a
massive upset win via split decision. UFC CEO Dana
White later claimed that Chimaev had discussed a move up to
light heavyweight in the immediate aftermath of his first
professional loss. However, he has since been repeatedly calling
for a rematch against Strickland.

Meanwhile, Stirling has racked up five UFC wins, with two finishes,
since making his Octagon debut in 2024. He is now scheduled to
fight Jan
Blachowicz on less than three weeks' notice at
UFC Belgrade on Aug. 1 in Serbia.

Navajo
Stirling wants Khamzat
Chimaev to come up to light heavyweight

“I think he's a bit of a one trick pony. I would love to fight him,
I wanna test my theory against someone like that. I would love to
see bigger names in the division that could bring some hypeâ€
pic.twitter.com/L08xcGyEjX

— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma)
July 27, 2026

Conor
McGregor wanted to put on a “generational beating†against
Max
Holloway, but is now set for another year sidelined with injury
and rehabilitation.

McGregor's return to action in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship from a five-year hiatus ended
disastrously, as he injured his knee with the first kick he threw.
An anticlimactic stoppage soon followed, bringing an unfortunate
end to the penultimate bout on his current UFC contract.

The Irishman has now outlined when he'll return to the Octagon.

Conor McGregor targets summer 2027 for comeback

“Notorious†recently posted a reel on Instagram, where he can be
seen practicing his kick moments before making the walk at
UFC 329, further addressing claims that he entered the bout
with a pre-existing injury. The caption of his post revealed the
timeline of his return, eyeing International Fight Week next
year.

“What was to be a generational beating is now to be reset,â€
McGregor wrote. “IFW 2027 The Last Dance.â€

McGregor and UFC CEO Dana
White have confirmed that the former two-division champion
injured his ACL in the rematch against Holloway. During a recent
presser for Zuffa Boxing, White revealed the same return timeline
as McGregor did.

“Conor McGregor’s out for a year,†White said.

Holloway called for a trilogy bout in his post-fight interview at
UFC 329 and McGregor has since echoed that the Hawaiian will likely
be his opponent for the final fight of his UFC contract. The Irish
superstar has been keeping fans updated with his recovery, recently
posting a video of himself doing a leg workout.

🚨 Dana White says Conor McGregor will be out
for a year following the knee injury pic.twitter.com/Pv4ow0qJI7

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS)
July 27, 2026

There was a time when Jon Jones pounded the table to fight Alex Pereira, but he admits he feels the outcome would've been his for the taking.

When Jones successfully defended the UFC Heavyweight Championship against Stipe Miocic back in 2024, he showed more interest in fighting Pereira than he did Tom Aspinall, who was the interim heavyweight titleholder at the time. Pereira was the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.

Ultimately, Jones' clash with Miocic was his last pro MMA fight, while Pereira's bid for interim heavyweight gold fell short against Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250. In an interview with ALF Global, “Bones†discussed how a matchup with “Poatan†would've gone.

“I've watched Pereira train,†Jones said. “I see his level of wrestling, and it's way behind. I feel as if Stipe Miocic is a true heavyweight. He's a big, big boy. Ciryl Gane, when you see him in person, he's a big, big boy. Alex Pereira is not a big, big boy. He's a lean guy. Right now, I think he weighs maybe 250. I feel as if my physical strength would've been too much for him, and I felt as if the moment I would've gotten him to the ground, my submissions would've come pretty quickly.

“Everyone knows that. I think that's the clearest path to victory for me against a guy like Pereira, but we're not fighting. I am a fan of him. I support him, and I want to see him do well.â€

Jones and Pereira recently had a misunderstanding following UFC Freedom 250. “Bones†gloated on social media and called himself the undisputed GOAT after UFC CEO Dana White claimed Pereira would surpass Jones on the all-time list if he had defeated Gane. Pereira took Jones' post as a dig at him. “Bones†cleared the air by saying it was a shot at his detractors.

If Jon Jones and Alex Pereira had fought, do you think “Bones†would've gotten an early submission? Would Pereira have caught Jones at the perfect time? Share your thoughts on this lost fantasy matchup in the comments below.