Khamzat Chimaev has stated 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 of MMA's biggest names. No official discussions or negotiations have been mentioned, and this appears to be Chimaev expressing interest rather than announcing a concrete plan. The statement adds to ongoing speculation about potential high-profile boxing matches involving top UFC stars. McGregor has previously competed in professional boxing against Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
Khamzat Chimaev has publicly stated he would be willing to face Conor McGregor in a boxing match under the Zuffa Boxing banner, adding his name to the growing list of UFC stars expressing interest in crossover bouts.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," holds a 15-1-0 professional MMA record and currently sits as the number-one ranked middleweight contender as well as the tenth-ranked fighter in the pound-for-pound standings. The 31-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center is one of the most physically imposing fighters in the sport at six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. His MMA game is built on relentless pressure, landing 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 60 percent accuracy while also averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes.
McGregor, the Irish southpaw known as "The Notorious," carries a 22-6-0 MMA record and brings genuine boxing pedigree to any such conversation. The 37-year-old from SBG Ireland stepped into a professional boxing ring against Floyd Mayweather in 2017, giving him a frame of reference few MMA fighters possess. At five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach, he has averaged 5.32 significant strikes per minute across his career, making him one of the more active and decorated strikers in UFC history.
Chimaev's comments appear to reflect personal interest rather than any formal negotiation. No official discussions between the parties have been confirmed.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the top-ranked middleweight contender and a pound-for-pound top-ten fighter, meaning any high-profile detour carries real divisional weight
- McGregor's prior professional boxing experience makes the stylistic framing at least plausible as a crossover event
- Zuffa Boxing as a platform signals the UFC's parent company has ambitions in the boxing space, making callouts like this more credible than they might have been previously
- No timeline, contract, or official confirmation exists at this stage
