The Khamzat Chimaev next fight news has arrived and the young middleweight star will finally make his return to the Octagon this Saturday. But who will be welcoming “Borz” back to the cage at UFC 308?
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Who will Khamzat Chimaev next fight be against?
After eight months away from the cage, Chimaev finally was set to return to action this June. However, a health issue forced the two-division talent out of a planned bout with former UFC 185-pound king Robert Whittaker. Well, following “Bobby Knuckles” win in June, the highly anticipated bout has been rebooked for the company’s return to Abu Dhabi this Saturday.
How to watch Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker in October
- Chimaev vs. Whittaker will be a part of the UFC 308 main card on Oct. 26
- The fight will take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- UFC 308 will air exclusively on ESPN+
- UFC 308 tickets are still available
Khamzat Chimaev vs Robert Whittaker preview
For a second straight fight, Chimaev will be returning after a year away. While it did not affect him previously, he will be taking a huge step up in competition when he faces the future UFC Hall-of-Famer in October. It is an element of this upcoming fight that could end up playing a factor in what will be the biggest moment of Chimaev’s career.
Standup concerns: Every fight starts on the feet and the Australian has a huge advantage over Chimaev. Whittaker has shown in the past that he has good takedown defense. The longer he can keep this on the feet the higher his chances of finishing the young star are.
Ground war: It is a necessity that “Borz” gets this fight to the ground where he has big advantages of his own. While Whittaker has faced some good grapplers in the past, he has never competed against a fighter with the technical wrestling and strength that Chimaev has. If he can’t stop his wrestling advances it could be a short night for “Reaper.”
- Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker betting odds: Robert Whittaker (+180) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (-218)
The bottom line: This is a massive fight in the career of Chimaev. He has fought so little over the last few years due to illnesses that a loss could further his move toward irrelevancy. However, a big victory could catapult him into serious title contention heading into 2025.
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.
- 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.
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.
Also Read: How UFC scoring works – Everything you need to know about how to win inside the Octagon
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.
