Khamzat Chimaev says the UFC still hasn’t given him the fight he was promised. 😳 When Arman Tsarukyan asked Khamzat if he misses the Octagon, Borz didn’t hesitate: “Of course [I miss the Octagon]. Hunter not giving the fight. Promised me, but still nothing.” Chimaev lost the UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland by split decision at UFC 328 in May and has been pushing to get back in the Octagon. While Chimaev initially pushed hard for an immediate rematch, he has since said he’ll take whoever wins the expected Strickland vs. Nassourdine Imavov title fight. Should Khamzat get the next title shot? 👀 Via @mmauncensored__ #KhamzatChimaev #SeanStrickland #UFC #MMA #UFCNews
Khamzat Chimaev has gone public with his frustration over a promised fight that has yet to materialize, saying UFC matchmaker Hunter Campbell gave him his word on a booking that still hasn't come through.
The complaint surfaced in a social media exchange when lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan asked Chimaev whether he missed competing. Chimaev, known as Borz, didn't hold back. He confirmed he does miss the Octagon and pointed the finger directly at the promotion, saying he was promised a fight but has heard nothing since.
Chimaev's absence follows a split-decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in May, a defeat that stripped him of the UFC middleweight title. The 32-year-old, who fights out of Allstars Training Center and represents the United Arab Emirates, carries a 15-1 record into this period of inactivity. He is currently ranked first in the middleweight division and sits tenth on the pound-for-pound list. His grappling output is among the most prolific in the sport, averaging 5.29 takedowns and 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, while his 60 percent striking accuracy ranks near the top of the division.
Strickland, who reclaimed the middleweight throne with that split-decision victory, holds a 31-7 record and stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach. The 35-year-old American is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute.
Chimaev initially pushed for an immediate rematch but has since broadened his position, saying he would accept a title shot against whoever emerges from the anticipated Strickland versus Nassourdine Imavov championship bout. Imavov, the third-ranked middleweight from France, carries a 17-4 record and is six-foot-three.
Why it matters
- Chimaev remains the top-ranked middleweight contender despite nearly four months of inactivity since UFC 328
- A Strickland versus Imavov title fight would determine who Chimaev could face next, keeping his path to the belt dependent on an outcome not yet scheduled
- Chimaev's elite grappling profile and divisional ranking make him a difficult contender for the promotion to sideline indefinitely
