Khamzat Chimaev has stated that he would be willing to participate in a boxing match against Conor McGregor under the Zuffa Boxing banner. This represents a potential crossover boxing bout between two high-profile UFC fighters. Chimaev made the statement in a recent interview or social media post. No official negotiations or confirmation from either side have been reported.
Khamzat Chimaev has expressed interest in crossing over to boxing to face Conor McGregor under the Zuffa Boxing banner, though no official negotiations or confirmation from either side have been reported as of May 2026.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," carries a 15-1-0 professional record and currently sits ranked first in the UFC middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound standings. The 32-year-old, who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center, is one of the most physically imposing fighters in the sport. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he has built his reputation on a suffocating blend of wrestling and striking, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing significant strikes at a remarkable 60 percent accuracy rate.
McGregor, the 37-year-old Irishman from SBG Ireland, holds a 22-6-0 MMA record and remains one of the most recognizable combat sports figures in the world. Standing five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach, the southpaw has long been celebrated for his left hand and volume output, averaging 5.32 significant strikes per minute across his career. Any appearance in a boxing context would lean squarely into those strengths.
Why it matters
- Chimaev calling out McGregor for a boxing match would be one of the highest-profile bouts Zuffa Boxing could pursue
- A pure boxing format would strip away Chimaev's elite grappling, which averages over five takedowns per 15 minutes, potentially leveling the competitive landscape
- McGregor's profile and Chimaev's top-ranked middleweight status make this a commercially compelling, if stylistically unusual, matchup
- The report remains unconfirmed, and no formal steps toward making the fight have been announced by either camp
