Khamzat Chimaev has expressed interest in facing Conor McGregor in a boxing match under the Zuffa Boxing banner. The statement represents the latest in a series of callouts and hypothetical matchups involving the two UFC stars. Chimaev, primarily known as a wrestler and grappler, has increasingly discussed testing his striking in pure boxing scenarios. McGregor, who previously boxed Floyd Mayweather in 2017, has not responded to this specific callout. No negotiations or serious discussions about such a bout have been reported.
Khamzat Chimaev has thrown his name into the ring for a potential boxing match against Conor McGregor under the Zuffa Boxing banner, adding another chapter to the long list of hypothetical matchups surrounding both fighters.
Chimaev, known by his nickname "Borz," enters this conversation as one of the most dominant forces in the UFC's middleweight division. The 32-year-old, who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center, carries a 15-1 record and currently holds the number-one middleweight ranking, with a top-ten pound-for-pound placement as well. Built at six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, he is primarily celebrated for his grappling, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. His striking, however, is no afterthought — he lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent, one of the sharper rates in the sport.
McGregor, the Irish southpaw known as "The Notorious," brings a 22-6 professional MMA record and the most recognizable name in combat sports. The 37-year-old out of SBG Ireland stands five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach and has always been regarded as a pure striker, averaging 5.32 significant strikes per minute in MMA competition. He has prior professional boxing experience, having faced Floyd Mayweather in 2017. McGregor has not publicly responded to Chimaev's callout, and no discussions between the camps have been reported.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the UFC's top-ranked middleweight, making any callout from him carry genuine divisional weight
- A boxing-only format would shift the contest almost entirely onto McGregor's terms, stripping away Chimaev's elite grappling
- The Zuffa Boxing platform gives the promotion a potential vehicle for crossover events outside the traditional MMA ruleset
- No formal negotiations have begun, leaving this firmly in the realm of public posturing for now
