Updated

Updated · MMA Fighting · Sep 18

Chimaev Eyes 1-2 Month Return for UFC Title Push as Hand Injuries Delay Next Fight

Updated

Updated · MMA Fighting · Sep 18

Chimaev Eyes 1-2 Month Return for UFC Title Push as Hand Injuries Delay Next Fight

Q: Will Dana White grant Khamzat Chimaev a title shot, or will his history of health setbacks force him into another contender bout?

Dana White is more likely to send Khamzat Chimaev into another contender bout than grant an immediate title shot. Chimaev is publicly pushing for the winner of Sean Strickland vs. Nassourdine Imavov, and he says his current issues are limited to minor hand problems rather than a major setback. That helps his case for a quick return. But the wider middleweight picture cuts against him. Multiple reports say Imavov has been told by UFC officials that his next fight will be for the belt, and betting markets and division chatter also point to Imavov as the likelier next challenger to Strickland. Chimaev’s sporting argument is still strong enough to keep him near the front of the line. He is a former champion, his loss to Strickland was a split decision, and he remains one of the division’s biggest draws. If the UFC values star power and the rematch angle, White could still pivot. But the promotion also has reasons to be cautious. Chimaev’s record of surgeries, illness concerns, difficult weight cuts and long layoffs has become part of the matchmaking equation, especially in a division where the UFC wants activity and stability at the top. White’s own comments suggest no decision is finalized. He has said Chimaev is being considered for UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, but no fight is set. That points to a practical outcome: if Strickland-Imavov proceeds as expected, Chimaev likely gets a high-level eliminator, possibly against someone like Caio Borralho, while waiting for another shot.

3 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · Sep 18

Khamzat Chimaev said his latest injury layoff should last only one or two months, with hand problems—not major damage—forcing him to ease off sparring while continuing recovery and training.
The former title challenger said he still wants to stay active rather than wait for an immediate middleweight title shot, which he considers unlikely in the near term.
Caio Borralho is the main non-title option Chimaev identified, saying Borralho accepted a fight but was injured when Chimaev asked about October and instead targeted November or December.
Sean Strickland is widely expected to defend the belt against Nassourdine Imavov before the end of 2026, leaving Chimaev aiming at whichever man holds the title when he returns.