Khamzat Chimaev has no plans to leave the UFC anytime soon, but the undefeated middleweight champion is open to making one massive exception—a boxing match against Conor McGregor under the Zuffa Boxing banner.

Speaking ahead of his first title defense at UFC 328, Chimaev pitched the idea with characteristic boldness. "I'm not going to move over to boxing," he said. "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?"

This isn't about bad blood—Chimaev has no personal grudge against McGregor. Rather, he sees the matchup as a thrilling spectacle that would be both fun and financially lucrative for both fighters. "He talks better than Sean Strickland. It would be fun," Chimaev added with a grin.

McGregor remains the biggest draw in combat sports, and his boxing pedigree is undeniable. The Irish superstar famously crossed over to boxing in 2017 for a super-fight against Floyd Mayweather, which became one of the highest-grossing pay-per-view events in history. Although McGregor lost by 10th-round TKO, he lasted longer than many expected against one of the greatest boxers of all time.

Chimaev acknowledges McGregor's skills, calling him "one of the best boxers in the UFC." In a surprising twist, Chimaev credits McGregor for inspiring his own MMA journey. After watching McGregor's stunning 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo in 2015, Chimaev was motivated not just by the performance, but by the paycheck. "When I saw that fight, I heard about how much he made," Chimaev recalled. "That's why I started."

For now, Chimaev remains focused on his UFC career, but the idea of a Zuffa Boxing showdown with McGregor is clearly one that excites him. "Why not? It would be fun," he said. For fight fans, the prospect of seeing two of the UFC's biggest stars step into a boxing ring together is certainly worth dreaming about.