Following his official withdrawal from a scheduled UFC Battle Evening Saudi Arabia headliner this weekend, the preventing way forward for Khamzat Chimaev has been referred to as into query as soon as once more – with Dana White greater than flustered about the place the Chechen goes from right here.
Chimaev, the present quantity ten ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined since October of final yr, bettering to 13-0 with a controversial majority choice win over former welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman.
And slated to take essential occasion honors in Riyadh this weekend, unbeaten contender, Chimaev was compelled from a bout with former divisional champion, Robert Whittaker – after he was struck down with a case of meals poisoning.
Changed by former opponent, Ikram Aliskerov – who now takes on Auckland-born favourite, Whittaker at UFC Saudi Arabia, Chimaev has been dominated from one other scheduled return to the Octagon, seeing momentum halted as soon as extra.
Dana White uncertain of Khamzat Chimaev’s future
Sharing his ideas on Chimaev’s exit from the Riyadh card – White, who described the previous as “violently unwell” – claimed Chimaev appears to get so near the ending line earlier than faltering.
“I noticed this child (Khamzat Chimaev)on ‘Battle Island’, he wished to battle the subsequent weekend,” Dana White advised Jim Rome. “I let him battle the subsequent weekend. He seemed unbelievable. He’s been on this tear and currently, it’s been onerous to get him into the Octagon.”
“Each time he will get near preventing, he get’s actually sick,” White continued. “I don’t know [how long it’s going to be before he fights again]. I don’t know what to say. It’s not like he’s over right here on this nation [United States], and we’ve had docs right here take a look at him or something like that. He’s type of out of contact, so it’s robust to take care of.”
Already supplied a route again to lively competitors, Chimaev was as soon as extra referred to as out by Paulo Costa – whom he has been scheduled to battle earlier than, with the Brazilian claiming a matchup with him would deliver again his “ferocity” of outdated.
When do you suppose we see Khamzat Chimaev return to the Octagon?
