Tag: Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev issued his first statement since withdrawing from his UFC Saudi Arabia headliner against Robert Whittaker.

On Saturday night, June 22, ‘Borz’ was scheduled to step inside the Octagon for a potential title eliminator with the former middleweight world champion in Riyadh. Sadly, that is no longer on the docket after Chimaev became “violently ill,” forcing him out of the contest.

Recently, Chimaev took to social media and offered his first public comment on the dramatic turn of events.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Khamzat Chimaev (@khamzat_chimaev)

“We always plan something but Allah has his own plans for us,” Chimaev wrote on Instagram.

Borz’ has not competed since a majority decision victory over former welterweight titleholder Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.

ikran Aliskerov steps in for khamzat chimaev

Stepping in his place at the Kingdom Arena will be Ikram Aliskerov, who will be making his third walk to the Octagon after a pair of highlight-reel finishes against Phil Hawes and Warlley Alves in 2023. Aliskerov enters the bout sitting on a seven-fight win streak and could thrust himself from outside of the rankings into the middleweight top five should he score the upset against Robert Whittaker.

Despite stepping in on two weeks’ notice, Aliskerov is only a +124 underdog, meaning a $100 bet on the Russian could bank you a payout of $124.

With a win over Khamzat Chimaev, ‘The Reaper’ likely would have earned him another shot at the 185-pound crown, once Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya settle their business in The Land Down Under. With Aliskerov being unranked, it’s unclear if Whittaker will still earn the opportunity.

Khamzat Chimaev’s friend and fellow fighter Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov offered some insight into the illness that forced ‘Borz’ out of his scrap with Robert Whittaker in Saudi Arabia.

On June 22, Chimaev was scheduled for a high-stakes middleweight clash with the former champion, the winner likely setting themselves up for a shot at the 185-pound crown in late 2024/early 2025. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case after Chimaev became “violently ill,” forcing him to bow out of the bout.

During a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, Abdulvakhabov revealed that the illness was food poisoning, though he stressed that he had not spoken to Chimaev directly and was informed by mutual friends of theirs.

“Food poisoning is always dangerous,” Abdulvakhabov said in a translated interview. “Accepting a fight with food poisoning, [Khamzat] knew his state, [knew] that he wouldn’t be able to fight. That’s why he called it off.”

Ikram Aliskerov steps in to replace Khamzat Chimaev in Saudi Arabia

Instead of fighting Chimaev inside Kingdom Arena, Robert Whittaker will now go toe-to-toe with Ikram Aliskerov who will make his third walk to the Octagon in Riyadh. Aliskerov is sitting on a seven-fight win streak dating back to 2019.

After securing a first-round submission victory over Mário Sousa on a 2022 episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, Aliskerov has earned a pair of quick finishes against Phil Hawes and Warlley Alves. His fight against ‘The Reaper’ will be his first appearance of 2024.

It’s unclear if Whittaker will still secure himself a title opportunity with a win at UFC Saudi Arabia. Much of that may depend on how things play out when Dricus Du Plessis defends the middleweight crown against former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya.

Their clash is rumored to headline UFC 305 on August 18 when the promotion heads back to Perth, Australia.

Khamzat Chimaev’s friend and fellow fighter Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov offered some insight into the illness that forced ‘Borz’ out of his scrap with Robert Whittaker in Saudi Arabia.

On June 22, Chimaev was scheduled for a high-stakes middleweight clash with the former champion, the winner likely setting themselves up for a shot at the 185-pound crown in late 2024/early 2025. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case after Chimaev became “violently ill,” forcing him to bow out of the bout.

During a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, Abdulvakhabov revealed that the illness was food poisoning, though he stressed that he had not spoken to Chimaev directly and was informed by mutual friends of theirs.

“Food poisoning is always dangerous,” Abdulvakhabov said in a translated interview. “Accepting a fight with food poisoning, [Khamzat] knew his state, [knew] that he wouldn’t be able to fight. That’s why he called it off.”

Ikram Aliskerov steps in to replace Khamzat Chimaev in Saudi Arabia

Instead of fighting Chimaev inside Kingdom Arena, Robert Whittaker will now go toe-to-toe with Ikram Aliskerov who will make his third walk to the Octagon in Riyadh. Aliskerov is sitting on a seven-fight win streak dating back to 2019.

After securing a first-round submission victory over Mário Sousa on a 2022 episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, Aliskerov has earned a pair of quick finishes against Phil Hawes and Warlley Alves. His fight against ‘The Reaper’ will be his first appearance of 2024.

It’s unclear if Whittaker will still secure himself a title opportunity with a win at UFC Saudi Arabia. Much of that may depend on how things play out when Dricus Du Plessis defends the middleweight crown against former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya.

Their clash is rumored to headline UFC 305 on August 18 when the promotion heads back to Perth, Australia.