Khamzat Chimaev has seemingly put an ultimatum in front of the UFC. The former middleweight champion lost his gold to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in May. Since then, Chimaev has repeatedly called for an immediate rematch with Strickland.
However, his tune has changed a bit recently. The Chechen has also called out Dricus Du Plessis, Nassourdine Imavov, and Caio Borralho as potential opponents for his return. He has even admitted that he would be fine with an immediate title fight, especially with rumors swirling that Strickland could face Imavov next.
🚨🏆😬 Khamzat Chimaev reacts to the rumors of Sean Strickland defending his title against Nassourdine Imavov in December:
“There’s no surprise. How long has Imavov been waiting now? He’s already the contender. Whoever wins, we’ll take him.”
🎥 Ushatayka https://t.co/DHNudmuEkr
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) September 3, 2026
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Imavov has also claimed that he already knows his next fight will be for the middleweight title and that he knows when it will happen. Several reports have pointed to UFC 335 on December 12 later this year. And while Chimaev most recently dominated Tyron Woodley at RAF Moscow, the former champion has one condition before he returns to the Octagon.
In a recent interview with Adam Zubayrev, Chimaev revealed that he has been in discussions with the UFC about his next outing. “So far, they haven’t called me, nothing like that yet. I asked them. I want to fight in Abu Dhabi. They said, I’m not asking for a title fight. I knew Strickland wasn’t coming here. I said, ‘I don’t want to wait one or two years for him to recover. As soon as I said that, they gave Imavov a fight.”
At this point, Chimaev simply wants to stay active and beat another top contender to strengthen his case for a shot at the 185-pound title. He added, “I don’t know how official it is, but they’re giving him a fight. If they gave it to him, then they gave it to him. I said, ‘Give me someone to fight. Let me make some money and get my belt back as soon as possible.’”
However, the former champion then revealed that if the UFC fails to book him by the end of 2026, he could take an extended break to finally deal with some lingering injuries.
He explained, “As for the fight, I’m trying to get one. I was trying to get one in October, and now I’m trying for December. If nothing happens in December, I think I’ll take a little break. I have a lot of injuries. I need to get them 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.”
🚨Khamzat Chimaev plans to step away temporarily if he isn’t booked by December, revealing he has several injuries that need treatment.
“If nothing happens in October or December, I’ll take a little break. I have a lot of injuries that I need to get treated. I go into every fight with some kind of problem. People already know that.
I just get sick often. I don’t have half of my thyroid gland. I’ve been under anesthesia seven times and had six surgeries. The Almighty has ordained this for me. I still have to live my life.”
Via: @AdamZubayraev
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) September 13, 2026
Chimaev went on to acknowledge that his injury-plagued history is well documented. While he doesn’t use it as an excuse, he admitted that his road has been a difficult one.
He said, “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. I don’t have half my thyroid gland. I’ve had seven times under anesthesia, six surgeries, and a lot of injuries. And I still do.”
Chimaev famously fought twice within 10 days during his early UFC run, but his activity has slowed considerably since then, leading to criticism over his inactivity. Still, his latest explanation is understandable. If the UFC isn’t going to book him for several more months, with his last fight coming in May, using that time to finally get healthy could be the smartest move for the former champion.
Chimaev’s comments also serve as another reminder of the health issues he has dealt with over the years. If it sometimes feels like Chimaev hasn’t fully lived up to his potential inside the Octagon, it’s worth remembering that he was hospitalized after a severe bout of COVID-19 and came close to retiring from the sport.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
