Khamzat Chima͏ev was slated t͏͏o m͏ak͏e his re͏turn͏ ͏to the͏ ͏Oc͏tago͏n at UFC͏ Sa͏udi͏͏ ͏A͏rabia͏ ͏a͏g͏ain͏s͏t͏ Robert Whi͏tt͏ake͏͏r͏͏ for ͏the n͏umb͏e͏͏r ͏o͏ne͏ ͏con͏tender͏ ͏spo͏͏͏t i͏n ͏t͏he͏ ͏midd͏lewe͏igh͏t di͏vis͏i͏on.͏ However͏, ͏a yet undisclosed i͏͏͏llness prevent͏ed ͏͏͏C͏͏himaev ͏͏fr͏͏͏om c͏ompeti͏ng, f͏orc͏ing hi͏͏m ͏͏to͏ ͏͏withdra͏w ͏at th͏e͏͏͏ ͏͏last͏͏ minute. Da͏na White,͏ w͏͏ho ͏͏had ͏p͏r͏ev͏i͏o͏u͏͏sly͏ urged͏ ͏͏Chimaev͏ n͏o͏t t͏o͏͏ ͏re͏ti͏͏re, see͏ms͏ t͏͏o ͏h͏av͏e͏ had it being patient with the fighter’s woes and seemed rather annoyed at the UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov post-fight press conference.͏

Chimaev was inching towards retirement after the COVID-19 fiasco but White influenced him to make a comeback. This was supposed to work in favor of the emeriti but seems like it’s the opposite for him. Regardless, the UFC supremo has not completely given up and seems to have a plan for the undefeated fighter.

Dana White have a plan for Khamzat Chimaev

During the UFC Saudi Arabia, post-fight press conference, a reporter asked White what were his plans for Khamzat Chimaev after the entire scenario and the UFC supremo had no option but to give a proper answer to the media. He emphasized that the UFC is waiting for Chimaev’s recovery and they are planning to keep him for a fight in Abu Dhabi.

“No clue. You know, we will see what happens. Obviously, we will try to move him over to Abu Dhabi, see if he can make that fight,” said Dana White. There’s hardly any information regarding what actually happened to Chimaev as his entire team seems to be keeping it private.

UFC Abu Dhabi is set to take place on 26th October. White has said that he will try to bring him in till that time but the reality might be different as Chimaev’s physique seems to be a bit different than other fighters. ‘Borz’s teammate Alexander Gustafsson even remarked that he stays ill when his fight is near.

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Alexander Gustafsson’s take on Chimaev’s health

Khamzat Chimaev’s health has been declining since he contracted Covid when it was at its peak. The fighter was even considering retirement but Dana White stopped him. UFC fighter and Chimaev’s teammate observed a pattern in his health. In his own words, “The guy gets ill. There is something with his body that reacts to hard training because he is the hardest worker in the room. He very easily catches a cold.”

He further added, “For example, runny nose, coughing, symptoms that are not a big deal at all. We all get that. But I have seen when he increases his training a lot, I know his body reacts differently to that training. I don’t know where it comes from. It is crazy how he reacts to the training these days.”

Dana White is planning  Khamzat Chimaev’s return at UFC 308 but will he be able to recover by then? The question still lingers around the depths of the promotion. Despite the promises the fighter and his team have made to come back, how his recovery journey turns out, time will tell.

What’s your take on the entire situation? State your thoughts in the comments below.