The highly praised UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev will not retire; instead, he is planning a return to action later this year.
The 26-year-old Chechen fighter, who conquered the world in 2020 when he claimed three consecutive victories after joining the UFC squad, has been out of action for several months after contracting COVID-19 and struggling with long-term symptoms. After being forced to leave two different dates for a fight against the top five in the welterweight rankings, Leon Edwards, he hinted that he should stay away from the sport forever while he struggled to recover from the deadly disease.
Now with health improving, Chimaev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, confirmed by text message to MMA Fighting that he is aiming for July for his next UFC fight. ESPN first reported on Chimaev’s plan to return.
“I think many of us don’t really know what these young fighters are going through,” Abdelaziz told ESPN. “It is impossible to live inside their heads and inside their bodies, and sometimes they say things out of frustration or are simply furious that they cannot do what they love. Khamzat has been doing this all his life, so he almost felt crippled for not being able to train, but he is healthy now and will start training.
“I was talking to him this week and he even said that he is going to swim with crocodiles and sharks, and make movements with these creatures, as part of a special training program.”
Chimaev hinted at his return earlier this week, writing on social media: “Surprise, surprise, I’m coming back to crush everyone!”
With plans to return to full training in April and then to fight in July, Chimaev and his team chose as their next opponent the also welterweight Neil Magny.
The welterweights have come and gone through social networks and through various interviews. Chimaev has been struggling to find opponents willing to face him, and Magny immediately offers to face the unbeaten prospect. The question now is about time.
Ultimately, Chimaev’s ill health has kept him out of the field since his last victory in September 2020. Although Magny is definitely still at stake, he is not so sure he wants to stay out until July.
“I’m going to fight him any day of the week,” said Magny in a text message sent to MMA Fighting on Wednesday. “But I’m not going to put my career on hold so that he can fight me in July.
“He needs to focus on getting healthy first. The shouting he’s asking for is long overdue and is waiting for him. “
It remains to be seen whether the UFC will try to schedule Chimaev against Magny or wait until there is additional information on his health when he returns to training in April.
For now, Chimaev looks set to return to action as one of the hottest fighters to emerge from the pandemic era, while the UFC plans to return later this year.