Khamzat Chimaev may be making a return to the Octagon soon! ‘Borz’ last stepped into the cage against Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 last year where he secured a majority decision win against the former welterweight champion. Originally scheduled to face Paulo Costa at the event, the bout saw Usman step in on short notice after Costa had to withdraw due to complications with his arm because of a staph infection.

UFC CEO Dana White had also indicated that the bout between Usman and Chimaev would determine the next challenger for the middleweight title. However, ‘Borz’ suffered an injury to his hand in the Usman fight and as such, could not take a shot at the 185-lbs belt. But in a recent update, his manager has dropped a hint about his return stating, “soon news.” So, let’s take a look at the 3 likely opponents Chimaev could face when he gets back to action!

Israel Adesanya vs Khamzat Chimaev was rumored to take place in Saudi Arabia

The first UFC card to be held in Saudi Arabia will take place this June. And a few months ago, some rumors suggested that Israel Adesanya would take on Khamzat Chimaev at the UFC’s Saudi debut. However, UFC CEO Dana White later clarified the situation in a post made on social media where he stated, “Not happening. It was a fake post. All the MMA Media that ran with it are the problem. Absolute CLOWNS,”

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But while the rumors may have been false, there is still a possibility that the two fighters could find themselves across the cage from one another. Adesanya hasn’t fought since losing his title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 last year in September. But the belt has already changed hands yet again as Dricus Du Plessis ended Strickland’s short-lived reign at UFC 297 this year.

With Strickland campaigning for a rematch because of his decision loss against ‘Stillknocks’ causing a lot of debate in the MMA world, Adesanya may find himself in need of another opponent if the UFC does grant Strickland his wish.

As such, a bout between Chimaev and Adesanya to determine the number 1 contender for the belt can be a possibility that would add more excitement to the title picture in the UFC’s middleweight division.

Paulo Costa may need to end Chimaev feud once and for all

Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev may not have faced each other in the cage, but their online exchanges have created much buzz for a clash between the two men. Their originally scheduled clash at UFC 294 ended up being canceled and ‘Borz’ faced Kamaru Usman instead.

Costa later returned to action at UFC 298 this year where he took on former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. But despite an impressive performance, he ultimately lost the fight to ‘The Reaper’. This put an interesting perspective on the comments he had made at the pre-fight press conference where he stated, “But after I beat Whittaker, I will not hear his name (Chimaev). F*** him.”

As he could not secure a win, Costa can now find himself in the mix for a fight against ‘Borz’. With the already intense rivalry between the pair, it would make sense if the UFC decides to re-schedule their canceled fight for Chimaev’s hinted return to the Octagon.

Kamaru Usman and ‘Borz’ have traded barbs online  

Despite stepping in on short notice and at a higher weight class, Kamaru Usman recently revealed that he may have given Chimaev more credit than he deserved! Speaking on a recent episode of the ‘Pound 4 Pound’ podcast with his co-host, Henry Cejudo, Usman stated, “…you build him up in your head. Then you get in there and you go, ‘That wasn’t special.’ There was nothing different that I haven’t seen.”

The first round of their clash at UFC 294 saw Chimaev take down the former welterweight champion and threaten him on the ground by putting him in some tough positions. However, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ adapted to the situation and managed to get some momentum going in the later rounds. Still, it ultimately wasn’t enough to get him the nod from the judges.

And Khamzat Chimaev was paying attention to what Usman had to say about their fight as he responded on social media with a post that stated, “Don’t talk too much musman you’re lost. This people are proud of their losses. Wtf”

Therefore, with Chimaev’s return seemingly on the horizon, it would be interesting to see both men re-match with Usman getting a proper camp this time. Also, having experienced Chimaev’s skills firsthand in the cage, the second fight between the two might go differently than what ‘Borz’ and his fans may be expecting!

In conclusion, Khamzat Chimaev’s imminent return to the UFC may set the stage for a series of potentially explosive matchups. With his previous encounters and rivalries fueling speculation, the prospect of his next fight has captivated the MMA fandom! 

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