Khamzat Chimaev has responded to recent comments from Conor McGregor by challenging him to a fight in any format, including boxing. Chimaev stated that people think he is only a wrestler, but emphasized he doesn't need to showcase his boxing in MMA because he is a mixed martial artist. He told Zuffa Boxing representatives that if he enters boxing, he will demonstrate his striking skills. Chimaev expressed indifference about the ruleset, saying he is ready to fight McGregor regardless of format. The callout adds another layer to potential future matchups involving both high-profile fighters.
Khamzat Chimaev has fired back at Conor McGregor, making clear he is willing to meet the Irish star under any ruleset — including a straight boxing match — after McGregor made recent public comments directed at the Chechen-born contender.
Chimaev, 32, currently holds the number-one ranking in the UFC middleweight division and sits tenth on the pound-for-pound list. Fighting out of Allstars Training Center and representing the United Arab Emirates, "Borz" carries a 15-1 record and has built his reputation on relentless pressure and elite grappling. He averages 5.29 takedowns per fifteen minutes and lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent — a figure that underlines the point he made publicly: that he is a complete mixed martial artist, not simply a wrestler. He stated that if he crosses over into boxing, people will see exactly what his hands can do.
McGregor, 37, holds a 22-6 professional MMA record and fights out of SBG Ireland. The southpaw stands five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach and made his name as one of the sport's most dangerous strikers, averaging 5.32 significant strikes landed per minute across his career. A crossover boxing bout would theoretically play to his established strengths on paper.
Chimaev's message to Zuffa Boxing representatives was direct: he is indifferent to the format and ready to fight McGregor regardless of which sport hosts it.
Why it matters
- Chimaev is the UFC's top-ranked middleweight, so any extended absence for a boxing crossover would carry divisional consequences
- McGregor's MMA future remains unclear, making a boxing format potentially the more realistic path to this matchup
- A striker-versus-complete-fighter dynamic gives the stylistic contrast significant promotional appeal across both combat sports audiences
