Things seemed great for Khamzat Chimaev after his recent win at UFC 294. But he may or may not get a chance at a UFC middleweight title fight due to his injury.
Chimaev secured a unanimous decision victory over Usman in Abu Dhabi just eight days ago. After the fight, he believed he had broken his right hand. His manager informed ESPN that Chimaev will have his hand in a brace for four weeks, and they’ll evaluate its condition after that.
Continue reading to discover his chances of entering the octagon for his much-awaited fight.
The undefeated contender, expected to face the new champion Sean Strickland after Sean’s victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294, has suffered a hand injury. According to a report from ESPN, he’ll be sidelined for at least a month due to a torn ligament in his hand.
After defeating Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) with a unanimous decision in Abu Dhabi just eight days ago, Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) expressed concerns that he might have broken his right hand. His manager informed ESPN that he would wear a brace for four weeks and assess the hand’s condition afterward.
Strickland (28-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) caused a major upset by decisively outworking Israel Adesanya and claiming the title at UFC 293 in September. Following Chimaev’s victory over Usman, Strickland openly expressed doubts about Chimaev’s readiness for a title shot, particularly since he faced an opponent making a debut in the weight class with less than two weeks’ notice.
Regardless of his opinion on Chimaev’s readiness, Strickland will have to wait an additional month for his return if Chimaev indeed becomes his opponent.
Chimaev’s recent win over Usman marked his first victory at middleweight in over three years. Prior to that, he had two wins at welterweight and one at a 180-pound catchweight due to him missing the 170-pound limit at UFC 279, resulting in a change of opponent and moving from the main event to the co-feature. He emerged victorious against Kevin Holland in that bout.
Now competing intentionally at 185 pounds, Chimaev may not face significant issues if his ligament tear turns out to be only a one-month setback. However, the longer Strickland waits, the more likely it becomes that the name Dricus Du Plessis could enter the conversation.
UFC officials have not provided any comments on Chimaev’s injury, a timeline for his return, or any plans regarding Strickland’s next opponent. What are your predictions for his future in the octagon? Let us know in the comments!
