Undefeated UFC star Khamzat Chimaev is feeling the heat from the MMA fanbase after making a rather strange title claim on Russian TV.
Once touted as a future double champion in the making, it’s been a wild ride for Khamzat Chimaev of late with his title claims now being branded by the global UFC fanbase as rooted in fantasy, rather than reality.
Khamzat Chimaev first offered timeline on UFC return
Earlier this week, Khamzat Chimaev appeared on a Match TV live show (shared via Red Corner MMA) to discuss his next fight in the UFC.
Despite having pulled out of his UFC Saudi Arabia clash with Robert Whittaker only last month due to a ‘violent illness’ as Dana White described, ‘Borz’ still thinks that he deserves a title shot next.
“Most likely [my next fight will happen] in October in Abu Dhabi,” he said, acknowledging that whilst the opponent is “unknown so far”, he should be fighting the winner of Dricus Du Plessis versus Israel Adesanya.
“I have seven wins in seven fights in the UFC. There is not a single fighter in the UFC who has won seven fights in a row and didn’t get a title shot… Dana says different things [so] we’ll see – you have to negotiate with them constantly.”
Whilst Chimaev might be wanting to turn public attention back to fighting following his recent cryptocurrency controversy, he’s objectively wrong about such a win streak being enough to earn an undisputed title shot.
Just ask the likes of Tony Ferguson (12), Magomed Ankalaev (10) and Belal Muhammad (9) – albeit ‘Rememer the Name’ finally gets his shot next weekend at UFC 304.
Yet given both Chimaev’s recent crypto scandal, his disappointing withdrawal from UFC Saudi Arabia, and issues with making weight in recent times, it’s no surprise that an already-agitated fanbase has been enflamed by his title claims.
Khamzat Chimaev branded ‘delusional’ by fans after UFC title claim
For the reasons mentioned above, there’s a lot of ill-will for Chimaev in the MMA community of late and fans were quick to jump on his title comments, branding both ‘Borz’ and his attitude towards getting that shot as ‘delusional’.
ESPN analyst Ian Parker wrote on X in response to the claim, “Chimaev is delusional if he thinks he’s walking into a title shot at #UFC308 after missing the Whittaker fight.
“Beating Usman, I should really call it barely beating Usman at 185 does not call for a title shot even if the Whittaker situation didn’t occur. He’s gotta fight someone in the top 5 and at least two more fights with both Strickland and Whittaker waiting in the wings.”
Former UFC title challenger Megan Anderson replied: “Fight… for the title?! After pulling out of another fight last month… I don’t think that’s how it works lol.”
Ex-UFC star Brendan Schaub also chimed in: “Title? Huh? Let’s just start with making to the octagon my man and go from there.”
‘Borz’ asked to help prepare UFC lightweight for title fight
So, whilst we might not be seeing Chimaev fight for a title anytime soon, that doesn’t mean that we won’t see him in-and-around a UFC world title fight in the very near future.
This is because earlier in the week, UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan revealed that he wants to employ Chimaev to help him prepare for the wrestling-heavy style of champion Islam Makhachev.
The pair of budding superstars are actually set to compete against each other on a new season of Hype Reality, a reality TV show run by Hype Fighting Championship in Russia – “Of course [I’d like to train with Khamzat], why not?” he told Sport24.
“Khamzat fights well and will test his strength… To be honest, he is there, and if there’s an opportunity to train with him, it would be good. Since he is tall and can work in a left-handed stance, I will ask him to train with me. In general, his build is similar to Islam’s.”
Whilst the title fight between Makhachev and Tsarukyan is yet to be officially announced by the promotion, that rematch is expected to take place at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi in October – the same card that Chimaev is hoping to return on.