Pereira Challenges Chimaev to Charity Grappling Match; Will It Actually Happen?

• UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has challenged middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev to a grappling match.
• Pereira suggested that he would give whatever money he received to charity.
• Chimaev has agreed on social media, and would likely be the favorite at online bookies.

UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has called out middleweight champ Khamzat Chimaev for a grappling match. Pereira also said he would give his money to charity.

Chimaev accepted the match on social media. If this fight happens, “Borz” would be the likely favorite.

Pereira Responds to Claims that Chimaev Wants to Fight Him

Pereira made the challenge to Chimaev on social media on Wednesday.

The former middleweight and current 205-pound champion said:

“That guy says he wants to fight with me, he’s gotta get out there, understand? He’s far, but I could challenge fight in his area if he wants. Let me look at you directly, let’s fight in your area. Let’s fight in grappling. And another thing, we can fight in the UFC. UFC is doing BJJ, right? UFC BJJ. Let’s do that then, let’s make it happen.”

There were rumors that Chimaev wants to move up to 205 pounds to challenge Pereira for the light heavyweight belt. But Pereira would like to fight Jon Jones at heavyweight at the White House in 2026.

Pereira also said he would put 100% of his money up for charity, and that the fight could be done under the UFC banner. UFC BJJ started earlier this year, and there have been three cards so far. This would be, by far, the biggest fight under UFC BJJ.

But who would be the favorite at UFC betting sites?

Chimaev Would Likely Be Favored Over Pereira

Chimaev wasted no time responding on social media. The middleweight champ also took digs at Pereira’s trainer and mentor, former light-heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira.

While you won’t see the two among this weekend’s UFC 322 odds, you could see odds for this charity match at online bookies soon. Chimaev would likely be the favorite as he is known as one of the best and most powerful grapplers in the UFC. His grappling was incredible when he took the belt from Dricus Du Plessis in August. “Borz” landed 12 of his 17 takedown attempts and controlled the South African for almost 22 minutes of their 25-minute fight.

Meanwhile, “Chama” is more known as a striker, landing just one takedown in 12 UFC fights. He is known as a kickboxer, and Pereira has won many titles in that discipline. However, Pereira is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and he would have a great teacher in Teixeira, who is a second-degree black belt. Surely, they practice that when training for fights.

However, the odds for this grappling match would be tilted towards Chimaev, simply because we haven’t seen Pereira use his grappling in a match. That’s not to say that Pereira couldn’t beat Chimaev in this discipline, but we’ve seen the middleweight champion win a title with his wrestling and grappling.

But this is a fight that many people would pay to see, and could be the spark that lifts UFC BJJ off the ground!