Khamzat Chimaev is not retiring. The undefeated UFC middleweight superstar has been dealing with serious health issues in the recent past, which many felt may lead to the premature end of ‘Borz’s MMA career. However, the native Chechen has opened up about his plans, closing the door on any retirement rumors.

In a recent interview, the Emirati citizen stated that he is slated for a UFC 308 comeback this October at the UFC’s annual Abu Dhabi PPV card. And despite his long layover, having last fought in October 2023, and his subsequent health scares, Chimaev is clear that he wants to fight for the 180-pound middleweight crown, and is negotiating with UFC CEO Dana White to make it happen.

“Most likely [my return will happen] in October in Abu Dhabi. The opponent is not yet known, but I would like to fight for the title. I have seven fights, seven victories. There is no fighter in the UFC who has won seven fights without fighting for the belt. Dana White constantly says different things, but we are negotiating,” Chimaev said as mentioned by Championship Rounds on Instagram.

Chimaev felt that since he had won every single one of his fights in the UFC so far, he had a claim to the middleweight title. While many may find that argument unconvincing, it is worth noting that he was the official #1 middleweight title contender after his UFC 294 victory over Kamaru Usman last year. However, his recent history may have well robbed him of a title shot in October, as many new contenders have emerged with stronger claims to a middleweight title shot.

Why ‘Borz’ is unlikely to fight for the title this October

‘Borz’ was offered a title shot earlier this year. The Chechen was in talks to take on the then-champion Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January. However, another health issue forced him to turn it down. Dricus Du Plessis stepped up in place of ‘Borz,’ and defeated Strickland to become the first South African UFC champ. Now, ‘DDP’ is gearing up to face Israel Adesanya on UFC 305 in August.

By Strickland’s razor-thin split decision loss to ‘Stillknocks,’ almost everyone (including Du Plessis) agrees ‘Tarzan’ deserves a rematch. Not to mention a resurgent Robert Whittaker, who seems to be in red-hot form at the moment. Chimaev, of course, was scheduled to face former middleweight champ, Whittaker at the top of the UFC’s first-ever Saudi Arabia card last month. However, the undefeated middleweight fell ‘violently ill’, causing him to be hospitalized weeks away from the Whittaker fight.

Ikram Aliskerov filled in for ‘Borz’ on short notice and was knocked out spectacularly by ‘Bobby Knuckles’, which has made Whittaker another prime candidate for a title shot. Given this backlog of people who deserve to fight for the middleweight title before Chimaev, it seems extremely unlikely that Dana White & Co. will agree to give Chimaev a title shot, especially after his recent history of pulling out or turning down fights.

What are your thoughts on Chimaev wanting to fight for the middleweight title next? Let us know in the comments below.