Khamzat Chimaev has a UFC champion could possibly be unhealthy for enterprise.
After racking up wins in opposition to Gilbert Burns, Kevin Holland, Kamaru Usman, and Robert Whittaker, ‘Borz’ will look to money in on his long-awaited title opportunity on August 16 when he challenges reigning and defending middleweight king, Dricus du Plessis. The 2 will headline a stacked UFC 319 card, emanating from the United Heart in Chicago, Illinois.
Because it stands, Chimaev is a 2-to-1 favourite to depart ‘The Windy Metropolis’ with gold round his waist. Nevertheless, not everyone seems to be thrilled about probably seeing the undefeated Chechen monster win his first world title.
“Would Khamzat Chimaev successful the belt be a catastrophe for the division?” Michael Bisping stated throughout a current episode of his Believe You Me podcast. “I received to agree that so far as promotion-wise, yeah, it could possibly be, proper?”
“Till we see him combat extra commonly, then it’s a query,” fighter turned analyst Paul Felder added. “It’s a downside.”
Chimaev burst onto the UFC scene in 2020, successful three fights within the span of eight weeks. However simply when it appeared like ‘Borz’ was on the fast-track to superstardom, an particularly nasty bout with COVID-19 halted his momentum. The sickness was reportedly so unhealthy that Chimaev thought-about retiring from the game altogether.
Fortuitously, that didn’t occur, however his appearances have been few and much between since.
Khamzat Chimaev returns to United States for first time in 3 years at UFC 319
2022 was the final time Chimaev fought greater than as soon as in a calendar yr. Moreover, ‘Borz’ has not competed within the U.S. since UFC 279, when Chimaev’s infamous eight-pound weight miss pressured the promotion to utterly rework the highest of the cardboard 24 hours earlier than Combat Night time.
Assuming there’s no last-minute withdrawal — additionally a common occurrence with Chimaev — the Chechen will make his return to america in only a few brief weeks.
But when ‘Borz’ finally ends up bowing out because of one other medical challenge, surging contender Reinier de Ridder will probably be more than happy to step in on brief discover.
