Khamzat Chimaev next fight: Top 3 MW stars that the UFC phenom can face as a manager drop their biggest hints for his return

Khamzat Chimaev could be returning to the Octagon soon! 'Boltz' last stepped into the cage at UFC 294 last year against Kamaru Usman, where he scored a majority decision victory over the former welterweight champion. Ta. The bout was originally scheduled to be against Paulo Costa, but when Costa was sidelined due to complications with his arm due to a staph infection, Usman was substituted at short notice.

UFC CEO Dana White also hinted that the fight between Usman and Chimaev would determine the next challenger for the middleweight title. However, 'Bolts' was unable to challenge for the 185-pound belt due to a hand injury sustained against Usman. However, with recent updates, His manager hinted at his return, saying “there will be news soon.” So let's take a look at the three potential opponents Chimaev could face when he returns to action.

Israel Adesanya vs. Khamzat Chimaev was rumored to be held in Saudi Arabia

The first UFC card to be held in Saudi Arabia will take place in June of this year. Then, a few months ago, there were rumors that Israel Adesanya would make his Saudi debut in the UFC against Khamzat Chimaev. However, UFC CEO Dana White later clarified the situation in a social media post, stating: “It didn't happen. It was a false post. All the MMA media that ran with it are at fault. Absolute Crown.”

However, while the rumors may have been false, there is still a chance that the two fighters could find themselves on the other side of the cage. Adesanya has not fought since losing the title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 last September. However, the belt is already in the hands of another man once again, as Doricus du Plessis ended Strickland's short-lived reign at UFC 297 this year.

Strickland has asked for a rematch as his decision loss to “Still Knocks” has sparked a lot of discussion in the MMA world, and if the UFC grants Strickland his wish, Adesanya will face another opponent. may require.

As such, a match between Chimaev and Adesanya to determine the number one contender for the belt could potentially add even more excitement to the title picture for the UFC's middleweight division.

Paulo Costa may need to end his feud with Chimaev once and for all

Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev may have never faced each other in a cage, but their online interactions made the pair's showdown a big hit. The originally scheduled fight at UFC 294 was ultimately canceled, with “Boltz” facing Kamaru Usman instead.

Costa then returned at this year's UFC 298, facing former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. However, despite his impressive performance, he ultimately lost the battle to “The Reaper”. This put an interesting perspective on the comments he made in the pre-match press conference: “But after we beat Whittaker, you'll never hear his (Chimaev) name. Fuck him.”

Unable to secure victory, Costa ends up joining the fight against “Bolts”. There's already a bitter rivalry between the two, so it would make sense if the UFC decided to reschedule the canceled bout to hint at Chimaev's return to the Octagon.

Kamaru Usman and 'Bolz' exchange verbal spat online

Kamaru Usman recently revealed that he may have given Chimaev more credit than he deserved despite suddenly competing in a higher weight class. On a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast with co-host Henry Cejudo, Usman said: “…You build him up in your head. And then you go in there and say, 'That wasn't anything special.' There was nothing different that I didn't see. ”

In the first round of their matchup at UFC 294, Chimaev took down the former welterweight champion, putting him in a tough position and threatening him on the ground. However, 'The Nigerian Nightmare' adapted to the situation and was able to regain momentum in the later rounds. However, in the end it was not enough to be recognized by the judges.

And Khamzat Chimaev took notice of what Usman said about their fight, reacting on social media with the following post: “Musman, don't talk too much, you'll get lost. These people are proud of their losses. What?”

So with Chimaev's return seemingly on the horizon, it will be interesting to see both men rematch, this time with Usman getting a proper camp. Also, having experienced Chimaev's skills first-hand inside the cage, the second match between the two may play out differently than 'Bolts' and his fans are expecting.

In conclusion, Khamzat Chimaev's impending return to the UFC could set the stage for a series of potentially explosive matchups. His previous fights and rivalries have fueled speculation, and the prospect of his next bout has captivated MMA fans.