In mixed martial arts, the price of greatness if often paid in broken bones, endless surgeries, and time spent rebuilding away from the spotlight. For fighters, the brutal truth is that their bodies are both their weapon and their greatest liability. Why do they endure? How do they come back after injury upon injury? Khamzat Chimaev, known for his relentless dominance in the cage, has been living this struggle firsthand. Why had ‘Borz’, once an active fighter in the promotion been missing in action before UFC 308? And what’s next for him as he eyes a return to the Octagon?

In a recent conversation on ‘Hustle’ show #21, when Adam Zubayraev asked Chimaev about his most uncomfortable opponent, the fighter quickly sidestepped the idea of any one person standing out. Instead, he offered a raw reflection on the toll that constant competition has taken on his body. “I don’t even know, [they were both] comfortable and uncomfortable, what happened is in the past and I don’t really think about them,” Chimaev shared candidly. But then he dropped a bombshell.

“I got sick often,” Chimaev revealed. “I have, if you take all of them together – I’ve had five to six surgeries I think, and seven or eight fractures,”, said Chimaev about his health woes throughout his career. “Doctors said you won’t fight anymore,” he shared and continued, “So far, I’m proving that I will.” These words reflect a fighter battling far more than opponents in the cage, he’s been fighting to keep his career alive.

It looked like the 30-year-old’s career was over before it even took off when in 2021 there was a talk regarding his retirement following ongoing health concern. Following those reports was a series of fights being canceled. Adding to the physical challenges, Chimaev opened up about the toll of setbacks on his mental health. “I am human too,” he confessed, “I also have my own problems. They needed to be solved.”

What does the future hold for Khamzat Chimaev as he continues to face the usual battles of a fighter?

It hasn’t just been surgeries and mental hurdles keeping Chimaev out of the octagon. His UFC hiatus also raised questions about matchmaking and timing. Fans have eagerly awaited confirmation of his next fight, and Chimaev has finally provided clarity. “I already have a contract,” he told, hinting at a potential bout against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312, which the promotion is yet to confirm. However, questions remain about whether the fight will materialize as planned. Will Chimaev’s body allow him to compete at the highest level once more?

The long absence has sparked conversations about the physical price of elite MMA competition. For Khamzat Chimaev, the injuries have been a defining part of his career, but they’ve also shaped his identity as a fighter who refuses to back down. “Sometimes everything goes well in camp, sometimes something bad [happens] and you get sick. It’s no secret to anyone.”

Context matters here. Chimaev’s meteoric rise in the UFC was built on rapid activity, smashing opponents, jumping weight classes, and capturing the imagination of fans. But his recent struggles highlight a harsh reality that even the most promising careers can hit unexpected roadblocks. From the outside, Chimaev’s career looks unstoppable, but his journey reveals just how fragile and human even the fiercest fighters can be.

Will Chimaev be able to continue his dominance, or will this be a reinvention of ‘Borz’? What are your thoughts about this fighter who battled adevrsity both inside and outside the cage? Let us know in the comments below!