Khamzat Chimaev, the No. 3 ranked welterweight contender in the UFC, plans to make his return to the octagon in March 2023.
Khamzat Chimaev, a talented Russian-born Swedish fighter, has announced his plans to return to the UFC. According to a recent vlog on Chimaev’s YouTube channel, ‘Borz’ revealed that he is targeting a March return to the octagon in Las Vegas and is open to competing at either welterweight or middleweight.
“I think we’ll be [fighting in]…Vegas, March. Let’s see, but I don’t know who [I’ll be fighting]. It Doesn’t matter [if the fight is at welterweight or middleweight], I just need some opponent.”
Chimaev, a highly ranked UFC welterweight contender, has faced numerous challenges from other fighters who are eager to step into the octagon with him. However, according to Chimaev, none of these opponents have been willing to follow through and actually sign a contract to make the fight happen. In his vlog, the 28-year-old Russian-born Swedish fighter revealed that these opponents tend to “run away” when it’s time to officially commit to the fight. This has likely been a frustrating experience for Chimaev, who is no doubt eager to return to the UFC and prove himself as a top fighter in his division.
“Every week I have a new opponent but nobody wants to fight. These guys speak a lot of trash talk, a lot of sh*t about me [saying] I don’t want to fight you, I want to fight you [but] when it comes to the fight and sign the contract, everyone runs away. I’m always ready.”
Rumors circulated earlier this year about the possibility of a matchup between Khamzat Chimaev and Colby Covington, a former two-time welterweight title challenger, in the UFC. Chimaev, who is currently ranked No. 3 in the welterweight division, and Covington, regarded for both his skill set and his toughness, would have made for an exciting and highly anticipated fight. However, it remains uncertain if this potential matchup will ever occur or if the two fighters will eventually face off in the octagon.
