Rising UFC welterweight star Khamzat Chimaev is ready and willing to fight Leon Edwards on short notice at UFC 269 next month.
Edwards was supposed to face Jorge Masvidal in a three-round main card bout, but Masvidal recently withdrew from the bout due to an undisclosed injury. Top contenders such as Belal Muhammad and Gilbert Burns have thrown their names in the hat for a short notice fight with Edwards.
But Chimaev has allegedly been calling for a fight ever since his dominant performance against Li Jingliang at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi and has offered to step up to fill in for Masvidal at UFC 269.
Khamzat Chimaev wants to step up to face Leon Edwards at UFC 269
Let’s go bro we do it @Leon_edwardsmma
pic.twitter.com/HXvytUOIRt
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) November 10, 2021
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto later relayed what Chimaev’s manager told him following the Masvidal news.
Chimaev has risen onto the scene since his electric 2020, in which he earned three finishes within two months. He was one of many prospects who made their stock rise in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chimaev took months off from the fight game after suffering a severe case of COVID, in which he was close to retiring permanently. But he returned this year and got back on track in his pursuit of UFC gold.
Big names, such as welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, have taken notice of Chimaev’s skillset. He was also supposed to fight Edwards last year before he was diagnosed with COVID-19.
Edwards is on a nine-fight winning streak and has long called for a title rematch against Usman. While it’s unclear whether or not Edwards will remain on the card, it’s clear that he’s probably the next in line for the title. But he may accept a bout against Chimaev in an attempt to stay active.
Should Leon Edwards accept a short notice fight against Khamzat Chimaev?