Hamzat Chimaev says he would box Conor McGregor in Zuffa Boxing

Hamzat Chimaev has publicly declared his willingness to face Conor McGregor in a boxing match under the Zuffa Boxing banner, throwing his name into the ring for what would be one of the promotion's most eye-catching potential matchups.

Chimaev, the hard-charging welterweight and middleweight contender known for his relentless pressure and grappling-heavy style, made the statement without offering any timeline, location, or further specifics about how such a bout might come together.

McGregor, 37, is the Irishman out of SBG Ireland who made history as a two-division UFC champion and has long been one of combat sports' biggest names. Standing 175 cm with a 188 cm reach, the southpaw striker carries genuine punching pedigree, averaging 5.32 significant strikes landed per minute across his MMA career at a 49 percent striking accuracy rate. A crossover to Zuffa Boxing would place him in a dedicated boxing context rather than a mixed rules environment.

Why it matters

• Zuffa Boxing is the UFC parent company's emerging boxing venture, and a McGregor appearance would immediately elevate its profile.
• Chimaev's callout signals his ambitions extend beyond the UFC cage, even as he remains a ranked force at welterweight and middleweight.
• The stylistic contrast is stark: McGregor's polished southpaw boxing against Chimaev's smothering, wrestling-based aggression — though pure boxing rules would neutralize much of Chimaev's grappling arsenal.
• No official talks, dates, or confirmations have been reported, meaning this remains a public expression of interest rather than a scheduled event.