The Khamzat Chimaev next fight news has finally arrived and the middleweight star’s return is officially set for June. When he returns in a main event slot in Saudi Arabia, one of the best 185-pound fighters ever will be waiting to welcome him back to the Octagon.
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Who will Khamzat Chimaev next fight be against?
After eight months away from the cage, UFC boss Dana White revealed Chimaev is booked to make his comeback in a headlining spot for the company’s first-ever card in Saudi Arabia on June 22. In his return to action, “Borz” will face none other than former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.
How to watch Chimaev vs. Whittaker in June
- Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker will headline a UFC Fight Night card on June 22
- The bout will take place inside the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- The fight will air exclusively on ESPN+
Khamzat Chimaev vs Robert Whittaker preview
The UFC’s first event in Saudi Arabia will be a massive spotlight opportunity for Khamzat Chimaev because not only could he score the biggest victory of his career, but a win over Robert Whittaker is sure to get the 29-year-old a title fight later this year.
An elite middleweight test: The big knock on “Borz” during his career is some believe he does not have the resume deserving of consideration for a title opportunity. Even his victory over Kamaru Usman in 2023 still came again a former champion who built his legend at a weight class 15 pounds lighter.
Well, Chimaev will get the greatest test of his career against a man who is one of the best middleweights ever and is still a top-five fighter in the division today. If Chimaev can win in June it will quiet almost all of his detractors.
Striker vs. Grappler: This matchup will be a classic striker versus grappler clash. While Chimaev has solid striking he is not going to win this bout if it is mostly a standup fight. Yet, “Reaper” has not faced many relentless grapplers like Chimaev, so if the Russian can ground the former champion he may have some huge advantages on the mat.
The bottom line: This is a monumental moment in the career of Khamzat Chimaev. A win here will confirm he is one of the new faces of the company and should set up a middleweight title fight for him in 2024.
Why is Khamzat Chimaev so famous?
The Chechen Crusher: Over his short career inside the MMA world leader, Khamzat Chimaev has become one of the most popular stars in the industry and a legitimate needle mover. And he has done that by being an unstoppable force that has met little resistance from some high-level competition inside the Octagon.
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- Khamzat Chimaev record: 13-0 (6 knockouts, 5 submissions)
- How tall is Khamzat Chimaev UFC?: 6-foot-2
- Khamzat Chimaev last fight: Majority decision win vs. Kamaru Usman
- Before he reached the Octagon, Chimaev won his first six bouts. All but two went into the second round, and in that rare instance against Mzwandile Hlongwa, he only needed over a minute to lock in a fight-ending choke.
- “Borz” became a favorite of his new boss by being down for a fight any time and anywhere. His first four matchups in the Octagon were split between the welterweight and middleweight divisions. And his first two fights in the promotion also took place just 10 days apart.
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The Russian McGregor: Trash talk and callouts on social media is the name of the game in the UFC today. And despite English not being his first language, Chimaev has become quite adept at using his Twitter fingers.
- The native Russia, by way of Sweden, has become an avid user of his Twitter account, using it to challenge many of the top fighters in the UFC welterweight division — including Leon Edwards, Gilbert Burns, and Colby Covington.
- During a 2021 rampage of tweets, Chimaev drew attention by seeking out MMA fights with retired UFC legends Brock Lesnar and Georges St-Pierre, and a wrestling match with former two-division champion Daniel Cormier. Only Cormier answered, and the former Olympian found the challenge quite entertaining.
- Chimaev has also made headlines in training videos. Dominating world-class talents like Bellator welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov and UFC veteran Darren Till.
Does Khamzat Chimaev have a wife?
The UFC star does not talk much about his personal life, however, there have been reports that he was married in May of 2022. Furthermore, following his win over Kamaru Usman he revealed that he now has an infant child that has become one of his new motivations in life.
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Khamzat Chimaev’s net worth
The measure of a fighter’s success is the dollars and cents they stack up from a career of professional fisticuffs. It is still early days for Chimaev, but his net worth is estimated to be $1 million.
What language does Khamzat speak?
Khamzat Chimaev is a man of many talents and that includes speaking multiple languages. He learned Russian and Chechen while growing up in the Republic of Chechnya. He eventually moved to Sweden and there he learned both Swedish and English.