“Ask Dana White, I Never Said…”: Days After Paulo Costa Fight Announcement, Khamzat Chimaev Opens Up on the Reason for His 9-Month Long Absence From the Octagon

After a prolonged 9 months of absence from the Octagon, Khamzat Chimaev has finally secured a fight. The UFC recently made an exciting announcement that the undefeated fighter will face off against Paulo Costa in a middleweight clash at UFC 294 on October 21. Both fighters are making their long-awaited return to the octagon. The Swede fighter’s last bout took place in September 2022, while the Brazilian powerhouse last fought in August of the same year. Their absence from the fighting scene has only heightened the anticipation of this showdown.

It’s no secret that Chimaev and Costa have had their differences, with heated exchanges and verbal jabs in the past. Now, they have the perfect opportunity to settle their grievances in their highly anticipated comeback bout. Ahead of his middleweight debut and comeback fight, ‘Borz’ Chimaev has finally opened up about the reasons behind the prolonged wait for a match.

Khamzat Chimaev reveals why he didn’t get any opponent

While attending UFC London, the 29-year-old phenom confidently revealed during an interview that his prolonged absence from the Octagon was not due to any fault of his own. With an air of self-assurance, he stated, “I don’t know. I make everyone scared, you know.”

He continued to explain, “Usman said he’s ‘boogeyman’ and all these guys think about me. So, when it comes to the fight, they have some surgeries, some problems, so, I don’t know. I fight with everybody. Ask Dana White, I never said ‘no’. So, I am all ready, always.”

Read more: Khamzat Chimaev Drops Bizarre Promise for Paulo Costa Days After Dana White’s Massive UFC 294 Abu Dhabi Confirmation

Now stepping into the middleweight division, Chimaev is far from content and has no plans to stop there.

Won’t be satisfied with two-division domination

During the same interview, Khamzat Chimaev openly discussed his move to the middleweight division and reaffirmed his readiness to take on any opponent, regardless of weight class.

Upon hearing his resolute stance, the interviewer inquired whether a move to a third division was on his radar. To this, the undefeated Chimaev confidently replied, “Yeah, it’s my plan. If somebody wants to fight, I mean, it doesn’t matter.”

Eager to make a statement in the middleweight division, Chimaev is already looking forward to his next fight. Do you think Khamzat Chimaev will maintain his undefeated record against Paulo Costa and enter the middleweight division with a perfect record? Let us know in the comments below.

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