Tag: Khamzat Chimaev

Dana White shuts down Israel Adesanya – Khamzat Chimaev fight amid apparent leak of UFC Saudi Arabia card

Dana White denies Israel Adesanya will fight Khamzat Chimaev at UFC Saudi Arabia card leakedAn apparent leak on the official Kingdom Arena website tonight, appears to have shown the booking of a middleweight…

Dana White denies Israel Adesanya will fight Khamzat Chimaev at UFC Saudi Arabia card leaked

An apparent leak on the official Kingdom Arena website tonight, appears to have shown the booking of a middleweight main event fight between former undisputed divisional champion, Israel Adesanya, and the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev for a slated event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 23. next, however, promotional boss, Dana White has firmly shut down suggestions of a bout. 

Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, has been sidelined since last September, most recently suffering a stunning title loss to former titleholder, Sean Strickland in Australia.

As for Chimaev, the unbeaten Chechen turned in his thirteenth straight win back in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE – landing a close, majority decision win over former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman in the co-main event of UFC 294.

And tonight, speculation has been rife on social media regarding an impending comeback for Adesanya, after an apparent leak on the official Kingdom Arena – which appeared to sell tickets to punters for a fight against the above-mentioned, Chimaev – at a set UFC Saudi Arabia event on June 23. 

Israel Adesanya – Khamzat Chimaev fight denied by Dana White

However, soon thereafter amid chatter online, the above-mentioned organizational CEO, White denied that a bout between Israel Adesanya and Khamzat Chimaev was set for June 23. in the Middle East – describing the leak as an apparent “fake post”.

“Not happening,” Dana White posted on his official Instagram Stories accompanied by a fan-made poster featuring Adesanya and Chimaev. “It was a fake post. All the MMA Media thar an with it are the problem. Absolute CLOWNS.” 

Over the course of the weekend, however, Israel Adesanya’s head coach, Eugene Bareman alluded to an impending booking for his student, claiming the City Kickboxing staple had “answered the call” for a bout.

“I can say that, we’re ready to fight,” Eugene Bareman said. “Israel (Adesanya) is ready to fight. He’s in camp – has been in camp. And we answered a call that said, ‘Can you be ready for this?’ And we assessed it because Israel is coming off an injury.”

“We assessed everything and put everything together, and decided as a team, yeah, let’s get into camp, and let’s start to get fit. Let’s come back a little earlier, at some risk – at some proper risk.” Bareman explained. “And there’s a strong possibility that this fight could happen on this date. And let’s act as if we’re fighting on this date.”

Would you like to see Israel Adesanya fight Khamzat Chimaev next?

Ian Garry plays up future fight with Khamzat Chimaev after UFC 298: ‘I’d elbow the skull off him’

Ian Garry talks up fight with Khamzat Chimaev after UFC 298 I would elbow the face off himUFC welterweight Ian Garry likes his chances against fellow undefeated fighter, Khamzat Chimaev.  Garry takes on Geoff Neal this…

Ian Garry talks up fight with Khamzat Chimaev after UFC 298 I would elbow the face off him

UFC welterweight Ian Garry likes his chances against fellow undefeated fighter, Khamzat Chimaev. 

Garry takes on Geoff Neal this weekend on the main card of UFC 298 in what will not just be a test of his MMA skills, but also his mental toughness. The 27-year-old has been on the receiving end of waves of online hate, going on for some months now. 

Ian Garry talks a future fight with Khamzat Chimaev

However, while some of the subjects clearly upset Ian Garry, it didn’t seem to impact his self-confidence. When recently asked about Chimaev, the Irishman was supremely confident of victory should the two meet, and envisions the fight being one of epic proportion and worthy of a special venue.

“It would have to be in the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland as my dream venue because they’re never going to go to Croke Park,” Garry said to Sporting Post. “And the dream opponent would be me versus Khamzat Chimaev because everyone talks about him like he’s this badman and this boogeyman, but in time I’m going get a chance to lay hands on him. If he’s the baddest man that everyone is afraid of I’m going to show the world what’s up.”

“He’d be my dream opponent in Ireland. I want that f—king wolf. I want that badman. I want to be the baddest man on Earth, and everyone considers it to be him at the moment, but let me punch the mouth off him and we’ll see what’s up.” (H/T BJPenn.com)

Garry has seemingly thought that one day he and Chimaev would have some sort of rivalry, one that could go down in UFC history. Chimaev is a formidable force and should the two continue down the road of success, and while ‘Borz’ has recently moved to 185lbs, there is no reason why the two couldn’t meet in the future.

“F*****g right. What’s he gonna do? Take me down? great bring it on, lets go, bring it on, let’s go,” Garry continued. “Dude, so am I, I’m bigger than he’s, I’m 6’3?, I’m taller, longer, faster than he is. Amazing wrestling, he gets tired though, he gets tired pretty quick, I don’t. The truth is, so what if he takes me down, I’d elbow the skull off of him.” 

Who wins, Khamzat Chimaev or Ian Garry?

Paulo Costa shuts down Khamzat Chimaev grudge fight after UFC 298: ‘He didn’t beat anybody’

Paulo Costa shuts down fight with Khamzat Chimaev after UFC 298 he didn't beat anybodyAhead of his return to the Octagon this weekend at UFC 298, former undisputed middleweight champion, Paulo Costa appears…

Paulo Costa shuts down fight with Khamzat Chimaev after UFC 298 he didn't beat anybody

Ahead of his return to the Octagon this weekend at UFC 298, former undisputed middleweight champion, Paulo Costa appears to have shut down the idea of a rescheduled showdown with long-time rival, Khamzat Chimaev in the future, questioning who of note the Chechen has beaten.

Costa, the current number six ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined since 2022, most recently landing a unanimous decision win over former undisputed divisional champion, Luke Rockhold.

And forced from a slated title-eliminator against the unbeaten, Chimaev at UFC 294 back in October of last year, Costa was forced from the Abu Dhabi, UAE clash – after contracting a nasty bursitis infection in his elbow, resulting in a slew of surgical procedures to address the setback.

Booked to feature in the co-main event of UFC 298 this weekend in Anaheim, Costa takes on former titleholder, Robert Whittaker in another rebooked fight.

Paulo Costa rules out Khamzat Chimaev fight after UFC 298

And staking his claim for a second shot at middleweight gold – currently held by Dricus du Plessis, Costa has shot down the idea of a grudge match with Chimaev in the future, questioning who the Chechen contender has defeated of note.

“Of course, everybody knows I don’t like the guy (Khamzat Chimaev),” Paulo Costa told assembled media during his availability ahead of UFC 298. “But I don’t think too much people take him so serious anymore. He just stopped to fight – he didn’t beat anybody in the middleweight division. He didn’t beat anybody in the top 15 [of the] middleweight division.”

“… I like this beef between countries and cultures, and two guys,” Paulo Costa explained. “But after beating (Robert) Whittaker, bro, I will not want to hear his (Chimaev) name. F*ck him. He need to do something. He needs to beat somebody at the top – at least top ten in the middleweight [division]. And I don’t think he’s capable to (sic) do that.”

Do you think Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev ever settle their differences? 

Ranking the 4 Best Options for the UFC 300 Main Event

UFC 300, which is set for April 13 in Las Vegas, is now less than two months away, and there is still a gaping hole in the lineup. Head to the promotion’s…

UFC 300, which is set for April 13 in Las Vegas, is now less than two months away, and there is still a gaping hole in the lineup. Head to the promotion’s…

Ranking the 5 Best Options for the UFC 300 Main Event

UFC 300, which is set for April 13 in Las Vegas, is less than two months away, and there is still a gaping hole in the lineup. Head to the promotion’s…

UFC 300, which is set for April 13 in Las Vegas, is less than two months away, and there is still a gaping hole in the lineup. Head to the promotion’s…

Khamzat Chimaev rules out UFC 300 return amid links to title headliner: ‘I’m not fighting during Ramadan’

Khamzat Chimaev rules out UFC 300 return amid links to title fight I'm not fighting during RamadanUnbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev appears to have firmly ruled himself out of the running to take main event…

Khamzat Chimaev rules out UFC 300 return amid links to title fight I'm not fighting during Ramadan

Unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev appears to have firmly ruled himself out of the running to take main event honors at UFC 300 in April, following reports earlier today that the promotion’s “top choice” for the event’s headliner would see the Chechen challenger rival, Leon Edwards for the undisputed welterweight title.

Chimaev, the current number nine ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined since he co-headlined UFC 294 back in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE, landing a close, majority decision win over former undisputed champion, Kamaru Usman.

Making his middleweight division return, Chimaev had most recently forced a catchweight fight with Kevin Holland on short notice, having missed weight by seven and a half pounds for a planned headliner with Nate Diaz at UFC 279 back in late 2022.

And staking his claim for a title fight with Dricus du Plessis or Sean Strickland ahead of UFC 297 last month, Chimaev voiced his displeasure with promotional boss, Dana White, claiming the long-time head honcho had broken a “guaranteed” promise of a title fight for him next.

With time running thin on the promotion inking an April headliner for their UFC 300 card, MMA reporter, Ariel Helwani revealed today that the promotion’s “top choice” for the event’s headliner would see Chimaev fight the aforenoted, Edwards for welterweight gold in a rescheduled bout, however, the former’s association with Chechen warlord, Ramzan Kadyrov proved a significant roadblock to Chimaev’s ability to travel to and compete in the United States.

Khamzat Chimaev rules out UFC 300 return

However, in the hours following Helwani’s revelation, Chimaev has entirely distanced himself from a return at UFC 300, claiming he will not be competing inside the Octagon during the religious period of Ramadan. 

Do you think Khamzat Chimaev will make an unexpected return at UFC 300?