TLDR
- Khamzat Chimaev underwent foot surgery and will not return until after Ramadan ends in March 2026
- Nassourdine Imavov confirmed as next challenger, willing to wait for his title shot
- Chimaev’s return likely pushed to April 2026 at the earliest
- Kamaru Usman also interested in potential title shot, adding complexity to division
- Chimaev made peace gesture toward Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team following Islam Makhachev’s recent UFC 322 victory
Khamzat Chimaev will not defend his UFC middleweight championship until after Ramadan concludes in March 2026. The undefeated champion recently underwent a minor foot operation that requires several weeks of recovery time.
Chimaev spoke about his situation before UFC Qatar on Saturday. He confirmed the surgery would keep him away from training temporarily. The 31-year-old Russian won the middleweight title by defeating Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 in August 2025.
The timing of Ramadan creates another scheduling obstacle. The holy month runs from February 17 to March 19 in 2026. Chimaev’s team indicated he will wait until after Ramadan to resume fight preparation.
This means the earliest possible return date falls in April 2026 or later. The layoff continues a pattern of inactivity that has defined much of Chimaev’s career. His previous three fights took place in October 2024, October 2023, and September 2022.
Nassourdine Imavov has been identified as the next challenger for Chimaev’s title. The French fighter holds the number two ranking in the middleweight division. Imavov recently posted on social media that he told the UFC he would only accept a title shot.
“If we have to wait, we’ll wait,” Imavov wrote. “I’m not used to waiting, but this time I have to.” The 29-year-old is currently riding a five-fight winning streak.
Imavov’s Path to Title Shot
Imavov earned his position through victories over high-level competition. He defeated Israel Adesanya, Jared Cannonier, and Brendan Allen in recent fights. His September win over undefeated Caio Borralho at UFC Paris strengthened his case for a title opportunity.
Chimaev acknowledged Imavov as his next opponent in a social media post. “See you after Ramadan,” Chimaev wrote. “You have time to work on your wrestling.” The message confirmed the matchup while offering advice to his future challenger.
The division faces other potential complications. Kamaru Usman recently suggested he might deserve a title shot ahead of Imavov. Usman gave Chimaev one of his toughest fights at UFC 294 in 2023.
Chimaev’s career has been marked by cancellations and medical problems. His scheduled bout with Leon Edwards was called off three times between late 2020 and early 2021. COVID-19 complications caused those delays.
Weight Issues and Scheduling Problems
The UFC 279 fight with Nate Diaz collapsed when Chimaev missed weight. These incidents created a pattern of inconsistent availability that frustrated fans and the UFC. His most active period came in 2020 when he secured three stoppage victories between July and September.
Chimaev attended UFC Qatar to support teammate Arman Tsarukyan. Tsarukyan defeated Dan Hooker by second-round stoppage in the main event. The Armenian fighter secured the number one contender spot at lightweight with the victory.
While in Qatar, Chimaev got into an altercation with Ian Machado Garry. The incident drew attention but did not change plans for his next title defense. Chimaev also made a peace gesture toward Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team following Islam Makhachev’s historic achievement at UFC 322.
Makhachev became the 10th two-division UFC champion by winning the welterweight title. He tied the record for longest winning streak in UFC history with 16 consecutive victories. Chimaev posted on Instagram about unity between fighters from the Caucasus region.
“The wolf and the eagle are not always close, but when you need to protect the mountains, they will always protect them together,” Chimaev wrote. The message marked a shift from previous tensions between the camps. Chimaev was involved in a brawl with Abubakar Nurmagomedov at UFC 280.
Imavov must now wait several months for his title opportunity. The UFC has not officially announced the fight yet.
