The next time Khamzat Chimaev steps into the UFC Octagon, he'll be hoping to put a gold medal on the line.
The unbeaten Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has not competed since winning a majority decision over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in October 2023. He is currently eyeing a return at UFC 308 a year later.
“It will probably be in Abu Dhabi in October,” Chimaev told Match TV in Russian. “It's unclear at the moment. I want to fight for the title.”
“I had seven fights and seven wins. No fighter has ever won seven matches in the UFC without fighting for a belt.”
However, Chimaev is mistaken about his own statistics: There are currently two other unbeaten fighters in the UFC who have eight wins but are yet to earn a title shot: Movsar Evloev and Ian Machado Garry.
A middleweight title fight between current champion Dricus du Plessis and former champion Israel Adesanya is scheduled to take place at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia on August 17.
Chimaev was scheduled to face former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC on ABC 6 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 22 but was forced to withdraw due to health issues, which have come up multiple times in his UFC career and have concerned the promotion's CEO Dana White.
“It's been hard to get him in the Octagon lately,” White said recently on “The Jim Rome Show.” “Every time we get closer to a fight, he gets really sick. I don't know what to say. He's not even in the country, he doesn't see a doctor. He's naive, so it's hard to deal with.”
Chimaev is a powerful presence when he steps into the cage.
He's undefeated in seven UFC bouts at welterweight and middleweight, with five wins by knockout, and many, including White, rate him as a championship contender.
Despite recent health issues denying him the opportunity to beat a second former champion, Chimaev is still looking to make a title shot in his return.
For more details on the card, check out MMA Junkie's UFC 308 event hub.
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