Khamzat Chimaev to Take Extended Break if No Fight Secured by December

Khamzat Chimaev is pushing for a return to the octagon before the year's end.

In May, Chimaev suffered the first loss of his MMA career, dropping a split decision to Sean Strickland in their UFC 328 title fight. Following the defeat, Chimaev quickly began campaigning for a rematch with Strickland, but in recent weeks, "Borz" has paused his pursuit of that bout and now believes Nassourdine Imavov will get the next title shot.

Despite his eagerness to fight, even if it's not for a title, Chimaev is still without an opponent. The former middleweight contender stated that if he doesn't secure a fight before the end of the year, he will take a break to recover.

"I was trying to get a fight in October, and now I'm aiming for December. If nothing happens in December, I think I'll take a short break. I have many injuries that need addressing. I've been postponing surgeries, pushing them back repeatedly, and I enter every fight with some kind of issue."

"I don't like to talk much about my problems or injuries. People already know I'm often sick. That's just how it is for me. I don't have half my thyroid. I've been under anesthesia seven times, had six surgeries, and many injuries. And I still have them."

And as for the rumors of a title fight between Strickland and Imavov? Chimaev believes Imavov is in a good position to get his revenge on Strickland.

"It's a tough fight. I hope that after their bout a few years ago, Imavov has improved his striking and will outclass him," Chimaev said. "He's a very tough guy. If he overcomes Imavov, it will be difficult. If Imavov's cardio holds up, technically, I think he's much better than him. All fighters are better than him."

"I replayed the fight in my head a thousand times. Before the fight, I couldn't even imagine him beating me."