Khamzat Chimaev to Take Break If No Fight This Year

Khamzat Chimaev plans to take a short break from fighting if he doesn't compete in October or December. The UFC fighter mentioned ongoing injuries that require treatment, noting he enters every bout with some health issue.

Chimaev also revealed he frequently falls ill and has undergone multiple surgeries, including the removal of half his thyroid gland. He stated, "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."

Chimaev lost the UFC middleweight championship to Sean Strickland earlier this year. His future in the sport remains a topic of discussion, with some suggesting a move to light heavyweight due to weight cut challenges, while others believe another shot at Strickland could lead him back to the title.

Given his history of injuries, taking the remainder of the year off might be a necessary step for Chimaev to return at full strength. The middleweight division will continue under champion Sean Strickland.

Khamzat Chimaev Discusses His Future

Chimaev's statement was made in a recent interview with Adam Zubayraev on The Hustle Show.

Khamzat Chimaev says he will take ‘a little break’ if he doesn’t fight again this year

UFC star Khamzat Chimaev has provided an update on his mixed martial arts future and when he wants to return to the cage.

At UFC 328 earlier this year, Khamzat Chimaev lost the UFC middleweight championship. He lost to Sean Strickland, the same man who was able to pull off a great upset and win the belt against Israel Adesanya a few years back.

Ever since that defeat, Khamzat Chimaev’s future has been up in the air. Some have suggested he needs to make the move up to the light heavyweight division, mainly because of the weight cut. Others, though, feel like one more crack at Strickland could lead him back to the title.

In a recent interview, Khamzat Chimaev provided an open and honest assessment of what we can expect from him for the remainder of the year.

“If nothing happens in October or December, I’ll take a little break,” Chimaev told Adam Zubayraev on The Hustle Show. “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.”

Khamzat has struggled with injuries throughout the course of his mixed martial arts career, and that’s no secret. So, if he’s going to come back, and he wants to be at 100%, perhaps taking the rest of the year off is the right move. The middleweight division, meanwhile, will continue to move forward under the guidance of Sean Strickland.