Khamzat Chimaev was set to main event UFC's inaugural event in Saudi Arabia with a chance to earn a ticket to the middleweight title. Unfortunately, those plans changed last week.
Chimaev was scheduled to make his first appearance of 2024 this Saturday in a major bout against former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, but was forced to withdraw due to illness. Chimaev will now watch former foe Ikram Aliskerov take on Whittaker in the new main event.
The unbeaten Chimaev posted his first comments since withdrawing on his Instagram page on Monday.
“We are always planning something, but Allah has his own plans for us,” Chimaev wrote.
At this time, there are no further details regarding Chimaev's illness, nor is there any indication as to when he might return to the Octagon.
Announcing the UFC Saudi Arabia main event, UFC CEO Dana White said Chimaev fell “severely ill” while in final preparations for the Whittaker bout. The Jim Rome Show White continued to acknowledge that on Monday, while also acknowledging that Chimaev's performance over the past few years has been somewhat of a mystery.
“I saw this kid on Fight Island and he said he wanted to fight the following weekend,” White said. “I made him fight the following weekend and he was in unbelievable shape. He was in great form and it's been hard to get in the Octagon lately.”
“Every time we get close to a game he gets really unwell. [how long he’s going to be out]I don't know what to say. He's in the country and he doesn't have a doctor here. He's naive, so it's hard to deal with.”
“Bolz” returned after a 13-month hiatus this past October against former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 294. After a stellar first round in which he dominated his opponent, things got a little dicey in the next two rounds as Usman fought back in a highly competitive bout, with Chimaev ultimately winning by majority decision to improve to 13-0.
