Khamzat Chimaev could take another UFC hiatus

Chimaev may step away if the UFC cannot book him soon

Khamzat Chimaev could take another long break from the Octagon if the UFC doesn't offer him another fight by the end of the year.

The former UFC middleweight champion had originally been aiming for a return in October. Now, however, he says he might take a break from competition to address health issues. In a conversation with Adam Zubayraev, Khamzat Chimaev explained that he might take a break if he doesn’t get another fight by the end of 2026. He said:

“If nothing happens in October or December, I think I’ll take a little break. I have a lot of injuries that I need to get treated. I’ve been putting off my surgeries, putting them off, putting them off, and I go into every fight with some kind of problem. I don’t really like talking about my problems or injuries. People already know that I get sick often. That’s just how it is with me”

Khamzat Chimaev has been calling for a title fight and a rematch against the current champion Sean Strickland for some time now. However, since Nassourdine Imavov is considered the next title contender, Khamzat Chimaev would actually have to face another contender first in order to secure a title fight afterward. Whether he’ll get that fight this year, though, remains to be seen. What do you think?

I don’t think Khamzat Chimaev will fight again this year. If the UFC moves quickly, it might work out, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I’m curious to see how long his break will be, though, because I can’t really picture what that would look like. I’m really looking forward to it.