Khamzat Chimaev has no immediate plans to trade his MMA gloves for boxing mitts full-time, but there's one name that could tempt the UFC middleweight champion into a crossover bout. The undefeated star, who captured the title from Dricus du Plessis last August, is gearing up for his first title defense at UFC 328 on May 9, where he'll face Sean Strickland. Yet, amid the training grind, Chimaev has dropped a hint about a potential boxing showdown that has fans buzzing.

In a recent interview, Chimaev floated the idea of stepping into the ring against none other than Conor McGregor—under the Zuffa Boxing banner, the promotional arm of UFC boss Dana White. "I'm not going to move over to boxing," Chimaev clarified. "I will be forever a UFC fighter. Maybe if Zuffa gives the chance, box with Conor, or if Conor wants to accept that. It would be nice. Why not?" He added, "Conor is a good boxer, one of the best boxers in the UFC. It would be nice to try and go fight that guy. Good money, too. He talks better than Sean Strickland. It would be fun."

It's a surprising twist from a fighter known for his suffocating grappling—Chimaev's win over Du Plessis featured over 20 minutes of dominant control time. But the Chechen powerhouse has never lacked confidence in his hands. Remember his blistering 17-second knockout of Gerald Meerschaert early in his UFC run? That kind of quick-finish power is exactly what makes a matchup with McGregor, a master of the one-punch KO, so intriguing.

McGregor, meanwhile, is eyeing a return at UFC 329 during International Fight Week in Las Vegas. The Irish superstar hasn't fought since 2021, and his only notable boxing venture remains the 2017 mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather. Since then, a parade of fighters have called for a crossover bout, but Dana White has consistently shot down the idea of UFC athletes appearing in Zuffa Boxing events. Still, Chimaev's openness to the challenge adds a fresh layer of drama to the sport's ongoing MMA-boxing crossover conversation.

For now, Chimaev's focus remains on Strickland at UFC 328. But if the stars align for a McGregor clash, fans could be in for something truly special—a collision of two of the most explosive personalities and punchers in combat sports history.