Khamzat Chimaev has a date for his return in mind and when the time comes, he wants it to be for a UFC title.
‘Borgz’ is still yet to make this walk to the octagon this year, having previously competed back in October 2023 when he faces Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 due to
Speaking to Russian outlet, Match TV, Chimaev revealed the month, and event, he will look to return to action. He said:
“Most likely (my return will happen) in October in Abu Dhabi,” Chimaev told Match TV. “(The opponent is) unknown so far. I would like to fight for the title.
“I have seven fights, seven victories. There is no fighter in the UFC who has won seven fights without fighting for the belt.”
Although having struggled to have consistent appearances in the octagon, when the unbeaten Russian has competed, he’s taken the cage by storm. He start to UFC stardom when he fought, and beat, John Phillips and Rhys McKee, within the space of 10 days before making the walk less than two months later and stopping Gerald Meerschaert.
He was then given the golden opportunity to face Leon Edwards but due to COVID-related issues from both parties the bout was cancelled on three separate occasions. After over a year since the Meerschaert bout, ‘Borz’ returned at UFC 267 and picked up where he left off, stopping Jingliang Li in the first round of their bout.
It was then 6 months before he returned to the octagon, this time, facing the formidable Gilbert Burns at UFC 273. For the first time in his mixed martial arts career, Chimaev went to the judges score cards and worked to a unanimous decision win.
The turnaround for his next bout was a lot quicker but was marred in controversy when Chimaev missed weight for his bout with Nate Diaz, by an astonishing 7.5lbs, which ultimately seen his bout with Diaz scrapped and the Russian face Kevin Holland instead. He stopped Holland in the first round but the weight miss disappointed a lot of fans.
The last time fans saw Chimaev in the UFC Octagon was at UFC 294 when he walked away with a majority decision win against former Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, at Middleweight.
The UFC Middleweight title will be on the line next month when Champion, Dricus Du Plessis faces long time foe, Isreal Adesanya. However, there has been no indication that the promotion have any intention of Chimaev returning against the Middleweight champion when ‘Borz’ is finally back in action.
