Khamzat Chimaev may step away from UFC if year-end fight falls through

Khamzat Chimaev has indicated he may take a break from the UFC if the promotion fails to book him a fight by the end of 2026. The Chechen middleweight, who had targeted a return in October, told interviewer Adam Zubayraev that lingering injuries and deferred surgeries have begun to weigh on his ability to compete at full health.

"If nothing happens in October or December, I think I'll take a little break," Chimaev said. "I have a lot of injuries that I need to get treated. I've been putting off my surgeries, putting them off, putting them off, and I go into every fight with some kind of problem."

Chimaev has been campaigning for a title rematch against current middleweight champion Sean Strickland, but Nassourdine Imavov is the leading candidate for the next title shot. That leaves Chimaev needing to face another 185-pound contender if he wants to fight before year's end. The former middleweight title holder's willingness to step back reflects a pattern throughout his career of competing through injury, a practice he says he no longer wishes to repeat. Should no opponent materialize in the coming months, the Chechen appears prepared to prioritize his long-term health and address the physical toll accumulated over years of high-level competition.