UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has responded to middleweight kingpin Khamzat Chimaev’s challenge by proposing a grappling bout, while still keeping open the possibility of a traditional contest.

The rivalry between the two reigning champions has simmered for some time, with Chimaev previously expressing interest in moving up a weight class to face Pereira. Pereira, who reclaimed the light heavyweight crown from Magomed Ankalaev last month, made his response public in a skit filmed with his coach Glover Teixeira.

“Let’s fight in your area. Let’s fight in grappling. And another thing, we can fight in the UFC. UFC BJJ. Let’s do that then, let’s make it happen,” said Pereira, according to MMA Fighting.

Teixeira added a caveat before Pereira’s remarks: “First of all, he needs to get there. We need Jon Jones, we want Jon Jones, a bigger name. But Chimaev fights that guy there. If he fights that guy, I’ll bet my house on it.”

Chimaev later responded on social media, continuing the back-and-forth and keeping the potential matchup in the spotlight by saying that a showdown with Brazil’s Pereira would be “easy money.”

What happens next remains uncertain, with no official details regarding weight class, event, or whether the meeting would take place under grappling or MMA rules. Pereira is a two-division UFC champion known for his striking power, while Chimaev has built a reputation on dominant wrestling and submissions, making a crossover grappling proposal an unexpected twist in the ongoing dispute.