Rising UFC star Khamzat Chimaev is suggesting that the holdup for his return is not on his end.
Chimaev (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) hasn’t competed since a quick submission of Kevin Holland in a 180-pound catchweight bout this past September at UFC 279.
In a recent interview with TSN, UFC president Dana White said the reason Chimaev hasn’t been booked yet is because he’s dealing with some personal stuff, but Chimaev said otherwise in response on social media.
“I have no problems with fights,” Chimaev wrote. “If they gave me a fight, I would have fought a long time ago, I did so many training camps and not one fight, the problem is definitely not with me, prepared in Dubai then to Thailand, why do I train so much if there is no fight, I don’t understand.”
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman recently expressed interest in facing Chimaev, but White turned the idea down – unless it’s at middleweight. However, Chimaev said the weight class he competes at next will be up to him.
“If I want to fight 77 if I want to fight 84 I decide,” he tweeted.
White’s concern comes from Chimaev missing the welterweight mark by 7.5 pounds for his originally scheduled bout against Nate Diaz at UFC 279. The massive miss is what led to a shuffle in the lineup and Chimaev drawing Holland instead in a catchweight bout.
Whether his next fight is at 170 or 185 pounds, Chimaev is ready to take on any top contender or champion. He specifically name-dropped UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya, welterweight champ Leon Edwards, Belal Muhammad, Colby Covington, Robert Whittaker, and Usman.
“I can fight with everyone I don’t care who,” he said.
