Chimaev is preparing to defend his 185-pound title for the first time on Saturday against Sean Strickland in the headline bout of UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey.

While questions during Chimaev’s media availability focused on his brash rival, Chimaev, a superb wrestler who mauls opponents on the ground, surprised many by declaring he wants to square off against Conor McGregor in a boxing match.

"I'm not going to move over to boxing – I will forever be a UFC fighter, but maybe if Zuffa Boxing gives the chance, box with Conor, or if Conor wants to accept that, it would be nice. Why not?” said Chimaev.

"Conor is a good boxer, one of the best boxers in the UFC. It would be nice to try to go fight that guy. Good money, too. He talks better than Sean Strickland, so it would be fun.”

Chimaev doubled down on his declaration after McGregor, a former 145- and 155-pound champion, said Chimaev and Strickland were fighting for his belt.

"He lost his belt 10 years ago,” said Chimaev. “This guy should come off the drugs. He's drinking all the time – come back to normal and work, and let's fight.

"I'm saying Zuffa Boxing. People think I am just a wrestler. I'm an MMA fighter, and if I go to boxing, I can show my boxing, too."

Chimaev emphasized there is no bad blood between them, just the serious potential to make some big bucks in a crossover bout. Chimaev then went on to exclusively showcase his punching skills during mitt work with boxing coach Edmond Tarverdyan.

“It’s a fight that can absolutely happen, if the UFC wants to make it happen,” Majdi Shammas, Chimaev’s career-long manager and co-founder of Crown Sports Management, told The Ring.

“Conor has to want it, as well. It could be a huge fight. People haven’t really seen Khamzat’s full boxing potential yet. It’s an interesting fight that would get a lot of eyeballs.”

Chimaev has a 15-0 record (six stoppages, six submissions) in MMA and last fought in August, dominating Dricus Du Plessis with 21:40 of control time on the ground in their five-round, 25-minute bout for the title he now holds.

McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC since 2021 and has plans to return to the cage in the near future. McGregor’s only boxing match came in the 2017 blockbuster bout against Floyd Mayweather, which Mayweather won by 10th-round stoppage.

Chimaev said he was inspired to compete in MMA after watching McGregor knock out Jose Aldo in 15 seconds in 2015.

"When I saw that fight, I heard about how much he made," said Chimaev. "That's why I got motivated to start MMA. It's cool to see. It would be cool. Why should it be personal [to box McGregor]? He never did bad things to me."

Before a boxing side quest against McGregor could become a possibility, Chimaev is slated to be featured on a card put together by the upstart wrestling company Real American Freestyle (RAF) on June 13 in St. Louis, if his fight against Strickland ends without a hitch.

The Strickland fight is supposed to be the last for Chimaev at 185 pounds, regardless of the result, sources informed of Chimaev’s plans told The Ring.

Chimaev is listed as a -575 betting favorite to beat the +425 underdog Strickland, according to DraftKings.