Khamzat Chimaev has stated he would be willing to face Conor McGregor in a boxing match under the new Zuffa Boxing promotion. The callout adds another layer to the ongoing speculation about potential boxing crossovers for UFC fighters. McGregor has previously competed in professional boxing against Floyd Mayweather in 2017. Chimaev, known primarily for his dominant MMA performances, expressing interest in boxing represents a potential expansion of his combat sports career. Zuffa Boxing is the UFC's newly launched boxing venture. No formal discussions or negotiations have been reported regarding this potential matchup.
Khamzat Chimaev has publicly stated his willingness to face Conor McGregor in a boxing match under Zuffa Boxing, the UFC's newly launched boxing venture, throwing a high-profile name into the early conversation surrounding the promotion.
Chimaev, known by his nickname "Borz," enters this discussion as one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC's middleweight division. The 32-year-old, representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center, carries a 15-1-0 professional MMA record and holds the number-one ranking at middleweight, with a top-ten pound-for-pound placement as well. His MMA game is built on overwhelming pressure, landing 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent, while also averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — a combination that has made him one of the sport's most complete threats.
McGregor, the Irish southpaw out of SBG Ireland, holds a 22-6-0 MMA record and brings genuine boxing pedigree to the conversation. The 37-year-old stepped into professional boxing against Floyd Mayweather in 2017, giving him crossover experience that few MMA fighters possess. At six-foot-two versus McGregor's five-foot-nine, Chimaev would hold a notable height advantage, along with a one-inch reach edge at 75 inches compared to McGregor's 74-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the UFC's top-ranked middleweight, making any crossover activity a significant talking point for the division
- McGregor's prior professional boxing appearance makes this callout more credible than a typical MMA-to-boxing callout
- Zuffa Boxing's early matchmaking decisions will set the tone for the promotion's identity and star power
- No formal negotiations have been reported, and the callout remains an expression of interest only
