Khamzat Chimaev has been on the sidelines since his debacle at UFC 279. ‘The Wolf’ has been on the prowl for the better part of a year, but to no avail. However, the tide seems to be changing in his favor now. The Swedish star recently revealed some behind-the-scenes work happening for his next fight. If all goes well, fans will get to see Chimaev back in action soon.

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‘Borz’ has been a force to be reckoned with since his UFC debut. Competing in both the middleweight and welterweight divisions. The only time the Chechen powerhouse looked human was when he fought Gilbert Burns. Since then, Chimaev has regained his dominant form when dispensed with Kevin Holland inside a round at UFC 279. Unfortunately, Chimaev found a new opponent outside the cage that is halting his progress- the scales. The 29-year-old came in almost eight pounds over the welterweight limit at UFC 279. As a result, the whole card had to be restructured.

Many fans speculated that his exile was a punishment for the weight miss. But Chimaev’s latest revelation hints that he is on the same page with the promotion in getting a fight booked.

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Khamzat Chimaev reveals details of his upcoming bout

A few months ago, Dana White announced he preferred Khamzat Chimaev to fight at middleweight next. Later, Chimaev set his sights on ex-UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman for his next fight. Again, the weight class became the hurdle to making what would undeniably be a huge fight for the promotion.

Now, Chimaev has shed some light on the efforts to make his next fight happen sooner than later. In a recent interview he gave to a Swedish outlet, Chimaev said, “It will be Usman 90%. But he’s talking about 2 kilos. He doesn’t want to gain 4.5 lbs. Dana White talk about 181 pounds. We’ll see. There was no other match. Just him.”

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Both Usman and Chimaev had been going back and forth on social media, stating their interest in fighting each other. Dana White, meanwhile, does not want to do a catchweight bout. He also revealed that Usman personally lobbied for the bout and called for catchweight.

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Given Chimaev’s weight miss the last time, White could be skeptical about booking the 6’2″ wrecking machine in a welterweight fight again. But will Usman moving up to 185 give Chimaev an advantage? A catchweight seems the easiest solution, but the UFC president does not agree with it.

Watch This StoryKhamzat Chimaev reveals his soft side in an emotional message for his mother

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Should the UFC give Chimaev another welterweight fight? Or should they have these two juggernauts duke it out at catchweight? Let us know in the comments below.

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Yeswanth Praveen

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As Senior Editor of EssentiallySports’ UFC division, Yeswanth Praveen brings firsthand experience to our combat vertical. A competitive boxer since his college days, he still trains four times a week, keeping his connection to the sport sharp. An English major with a strong command of language, Yeswanth combines technical insight with compelling storytelling, decoding complex fight sequences while capturing the heart of a fighter’s journey. Since joining EssentiallySports in 2021, he has played a pivotal role in shaping our combat coverage strategies. His work has earned recognition from UFC veterans like Bruce Buffer and former heavyweight Brendan Schaub. His UFC takes on Twitter keep him actively engaged with fight fans. Whether breaking down a high-stakes title fight or profiling a rising prospect, Yeswanth delivers authenticity and depth.

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Rohini Kottu