Chael Sonnen believes UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev likes keeping everyone on ice.
Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) has shared no news on his next move after dethroning Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 this past August. While Chimaev acknowledges Nassourdine Imavov as a top contender, he also continues to call out light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
Sonnen is unsure what Chimaev's next move will be – a common pattern he's noticed throughout his career.
"I wish you would tell me. What is going on there? And by the way, this Imavov guy is fantastic," Sonnen told The Schmo. "As he's been delayed, as he hasn't gotten in the ring, I've seen more and more training footage of him, and he is really incredible. That win for Sean Strickland, just to tie that back, that's looking better and better with time. I do think that's the fight we're going to see. I don't know what the holdup is.
"There’s always a rumor around Chimaev, from visa issues, which I believe that we've worked through, to Ramadan, of which I don't know all the rules of, but there's always something there, and it never gets clarified – and I think Chimaev likes that. I think he enjoys that we, the fans, have to wonder. It's not a bad marketing tactic, but there's never an answer. You never know what's going on with Khamzat Chimaev."
A pivotal middleweight clash between former champion Sean Strickland (29-7 MMA, 16-7 UFC) and streaking contender Anthony Hernandez (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in the UFC Fight Night 267 headliner on Feb. 21 could also determine Chimaev's next opponent.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC analyst groans about Khamzat Chimaev staying enigmatic