Khamzat Chimaev says he is ready to return to action as soon as the UFC offers him a fight, insisting “nothing’s changed” since losing the UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland earlier this year.
Chimaev was dethroned by Strickland at UFC 328, ending his reign as middleweight champion and prompting him to put plans to move up to light heavyweight on hold. Since the defeat, the Chechen-born fighter has repeatedly said he wants an immediate rematch with the current two-time champion, although UFC president Dana White recently said matchmakers have yet to decide the next challenger at 185-pounds. Top contender Nassourdine Imavov has also claimed he is next in line for a title shot.
Speaking over the weekend, Chimaev suggested Strickland was responsible for delaying a rematch. “Nothing’s changed. We’re training, waiting for Strickland to come out of his house. Whenever they give me a fight, that’s when I’ll return. [I’m ready] even today,” said Chimaev, as noted by LowkickMMA.
White previously said the UFC had not yet determined who would challenge Strickland next, while Imavov has publicly maintained that he expects to receive the opportunity. Strickland has been recovering from shoulder and nose injuries, opting for stem cell therapy rather than surgery, and has recently been seen training at the UFC Performance Institute.
If the UFC decides against booking an immediate title rematch, Chimaev could be required to secure another victory before receiving another championship opportunity. A potential rematch with Dricus du Plessis has been suggested as one possible option should Strickland instead face another contender. Du Plessis most recently returned to winning ways with a unanimous decision victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City. Any future middleweight title picture will depend on the UFC’s matchmaking decisions, with White indicating no final decision has yet been made on Strickland’s next opponent.
