UFC Middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is just days away from his first title defense, but he's already dreaming of bigger fights—and more pizza. "Borz" faces bitter rival Sean Strickland in the UFC 328 main event this Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and he's hoping it's his last appearance at 185 pounds.

"I hope so," Chimaev told reporters when asked if this weekend could be his Middleweight farewell. "I like to eat pizza. We will see."

That love for pizza isn't just a casual comment—it's a hint at Chimaev's long-discussed plans to move up in weight. The undefeated champion has repeatedly floated the idea of jumping to Light Heavyweight to face former champion Alex Pereira. And with the division currently wide open after newly crowned champion Carlos Ulberg tore his ACL, the timing couldn't be better.

"I just want big fights," Chimaev said. "Alex Pereira, if he loses to Ciryl Gane, he's going to come back down to Light Heavyweight. He's a big fight, a big name. If not, I'm going to Heavyweight. I need big names, big money."

Chimaev's reasoning for leaving Middleweight goes beyond just chasing paydays and pizza. He sees little challenge left in the division after his dominant five-round win over Dricus du Plessis—who himself beat Strickland twice. "Even Sean is not a big thing for me," Chimaev explained. "If I stay here, I beat Sean, then I beat Nassourdine Imavov—but Imavov got beat by Sean. What's the point? Are we just going around in circles playing Russian Roulette?"

It's a bold stance from a champion who has yet to defend his belt, but Chimaev has never been one to play it safe. Still, before any move up or down the weight classes, he has to get through Strickland on Saturday night. If he does, the Middleweight division might just lose its most exciting champion to the allure of bigger fights, bigger names, and yes—bigger slices of pizza.