Khamzat Chimaev News
Sean Strickland responds to Khamzat Chimaev's "Unfinished business" declaration
Curtis Calhoun - July 22, 2024
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has Khamzat Chimaev in his sights if he reclaims the title. Strickland is holding out for another middleweight title shot after defeating former title challenger Paulo Costa at UFC 302. He defeated Costa unanimously before declaring that he intended to hold out for a title shot instead of facing another top contender.
Khamzat Chimaev is reportedly training with "boxing national team" ahead of UFC comeback
Harry Kettle - July 20, 2024
UFC star Khamzat Chimaev is reportedly training with a boxing national team as he prepares for his comeback. As we know, Khamzat Chimaev is one of the most exciting fighters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. However, as we also know, he’s been pretty inactive over the course of the last few years. Following on from his narrow win over Kamaru Usman, the expectation was that he’d return to action at UFC Saudi Arabia against Robert Whittaker.
Khamzat Chimaev downplays rumor that visa issues have impacted his UFC career: "I could fight there when needed"
Josh Evanoff - July 19, 2024
UFC middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev wants fans to know that he can fight in America. ‘Borz’ has been out of the cage since a majority decision victory over Kamaru Usman last October. The bout was labeled as a title eliminator heading into the matchup, but Khamzat Chimaev didn’t receive a title shot afterward. Instead, the middleweight contender was booked opposite Robert Whittaker for a Saudi Arabia fight night last month.
Khamzat Chimaev opens up on sparring session with Sean Strickland: "Choking him and beating him up"
Josh Evanoff - July 18, 2024
UFC middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev is opening up on his training sessions with Sean Strickland. ‘Borz’ has been out of the cage since his majority-decision victory over Kamaru Usman last October. While the bout was labeled as a title eliminator heading into the matchup, Khamzat Chimaev didn’t get a shot at gold following the win. Instead, the Chechen was given a main event against Robert Whittaker, set for last month in Saudi Arabia.
Khamzat Chimaev confirms plans for UFC 308 return in Abu Dhabi: "I would like to fight for the title"
Josh Evanoff - July 16, 2024
UFC middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev wants to fight for gold in his return later this year. ‘Borz’ has been out of action since a short-notice bout against Kamaru Usman in October. Khamzat Chimaev was originally set to fight Paulo Costa at UFC 294, but he was forced out. As a result, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ stepped up, and was handed a majority-decision defeat. The bout was labeled as a title eliminator, but post-fight, Dana White had a change of plans.
Video | Khamzat Chimaev destroys Russian Influencer with body shots
Harry Kettle - July 12, 2024
A new video has been released of UFC fighter Khamzat Chimaev destroying a Russian influencer with body shots. The curious case of Khamzat Chimaev continues to baffle the mixed martial arts world. On one hand, he’s one of the most exciting fighters in the sport. On the other hand, he’s incredibly inactive. He was scheduled to fight Robert Whittaker just a few weeks ago in Saudi Arabia, but he was forced to pull out. Now, nobody really knows what the immediate future holds for him.
Dustin Poirier reveals he accepted hours' notice fight vs. Nate Diaz after Khamzat Chimaev weight controversy at UFC 279
Curtis Calhoun - July 10, 2024
Dustin Poirier nearly stepped up on hours’ notice to face Nate Diaz at UFC 279 after Khamzat Chimaev missed weight. Poirier lost to UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in his most recent fight at UFC 302 last month. He lost by fifth-round submission and teased retirement, although he’s since teased one final appearance in the Octagon.
Sean Strickland slams Khamzat Chimaev for 'SMASH' token failure: "Rich and still try to scam your fans"
Josh Evanoff - July 9, 2024
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has taken aim at Khamzat Chimaev. It’s been a rough month for ‘Borz’. Late last month, Khamzat Chimaev was set to return to the cage in Saudi Arabia against former UFC champion Robert Whittaker. However, just a few weeks before fight day, the Chechen pulled out due to illness. In his place, Ikram Aliskerov was handed a knockout loss by ‘The Reaper’.
Dricus Du Plessis doesn’t want Khamzat Chimaev mentioned in future UFC middleweight title talks: “He hasn’t fought one single ranked middleweight”
Susan Cox - July 4, 2024
Dricus Du Plessis is making it known he doesn’t want Khamzat Chimaev mentioned in future UFC middleweight title talks. Chimaev (13-0 MMA) was to fight Robert Whittaker (27-7 MMA) in the middleweight main event on Saturday, June 22nd in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. However, ‘Borz’ pulled out of the bout due to illness.
Robert Whittaker responds to Khamzat Chimaev’s “see you soon” message: “Where? You can’t get into any country”
Susan Cox - June 26, 2024
Robert Whittaker is responding to Khamzat Chimaev’s ‘see you soon’ message. It was to be Robert Whittaker (26-7 MMA) vs. the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev (13-0 MMA) in a bout last weekend at UFC Saudi Arabia. However, ‘Borz’ unfortunately had to withdraw due to illness. Ikram Aliskerov stepped in to fill Chimaev’s place and Whittaker defeated him by KO in the first round last Saturday night (see that here).
Khamzat Chimaev reportedly targeting October return at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi
Harry Kettle - June 25, 2024
UFC star Khamzat Chimaev is reportedly targeting a return to the cage in October, as per his team. As we know, Khamzat Chimaev was set to return to the Octagon last weekend at UFC Saudi Arabia. He was scheduled to take on Robert Whittaker in an absolutely blockbuster main event. Unfortunately, due to illness, Chimaev was unable to compete, with Ikram Aliskerov stepping in to battle and lose to Bobby Knuckles.
Khamzat Chimaev reacts to Robert Whittaker's KO win over Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Saudi Arabia: "We are not done!"
Chris Taylor - June 22, 2024
Khamzat Chimaev sent Robert Whittaker a message following his first-round KO victory over Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Saudi Arabia. Chimaev (13-0 MMA) and Whittaker (27-7 MMA) were originally slated to collided in today’s UFC Fight Night main event at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Daniel Cormier questions if Khamzat Chimaev flew “too close to the sun” in early UFC days
Susan Cox - June 19, 2024
Daniel Cormier is questioning if Khamzat Chimaev flew ‘too close to the sun’ in his early UFC days. The undefeated Chimaev (13-0 MMA) hasn’t competed since his majority decision victory over Kamaru Usman (20-4 MMA) last October at UFC 294.
Darren Till responds after having his name “dragged through the mud” by Bo Nickal: “I haven’t seen Khamzat for a long time”
Harry Kettle - June 19, 2024
Former UFC fighter Darren Till has questioned Bo Nickal for trying to give him a bad name in relation to Khamzat Chimaev. Back in the day, Darren Till was quite the rising star in the UFC’s welterweight division. These days, however, he seems to be focusing more so on boxing than mixed martial arts. In terms of his future, there’s no telling whether or not he’ll ever step foot into an MMA cage again.
Paulo Costa explains why Khamzat Chimaev is the "perfect" opponent for his next fight
Cole Shelton - June 18, 2024
Paulo Costa is hoping to fight Khamzat Chimaev next as he says he’s the perfect opponent for him. Costa is coming off a decision loss to Sean Strickland back at UFC 302 after losing to Robert Whittaker by decision earlier this year. In his last fight against Strickland, Costa didn’t throw too much volume or many power punches, at least when compared to his earlier UFC fights.
Dana White uncertain when Khamzat Chimaev will fight again: "Every time he gets close to fighting, he gets really sick"
Cole Shelton - June 17, 2024
UFC CEO Dana White isn’t sure when Khamzat Chimaev will fight again after he was forced out of his UFC Saudi Arabia main event against Robert Whittaker. Chimaev was set to headline the card on Saturday against the former champ in a highly-anticipated bout. However, just over a week out from the fight, it was revealed that Chimaev was out of the bout after being violently ill and was replaced by Ikram Aliskerov.
Khamzat Chimaev releases first statement after being forced out of UFC Saudi Arabia: “Allah has his own plans for us”
Susan Cox - June 17, 2024
Khamzat Chimaev has released his first statement after being forced out of UFC Saudi Arabia. It was to have been Robert Whittaker (26-7 MMA) vs. the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev (13-0 MMA) this coming weekend, Saturday, June 22nd in the middleweight main event at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Robert Whittaker reacts to Khamzat Chimaev being out of UFC Saudi Arabia, says "nobody" wanted to take the fight against him
Cole Shelton - June 14, 2024
Robert Whittaker wasn’t sure if he was still going to headline UFC Saudi Arabia after Khamzat Chimaev was out. Whittaker was set to headline the card next Saturday against Chimaev, but on Thursday, rumors started to swirl that the undefeated fighter would be out. However, according to Whittaker, he didn’t know Chimaev was out until the UFC informed him the fight was off.