TLDR
- Khamzat Chimaev set a December deadline for his next UFC fight or he’ll take an extended break
- The middleweight champion has been postponing multiple surgeries to continue fighting
- Chimaev lost his title and undefeated record to Sean Strickland in his last fight
- He’s had six surgeries already and is missing half his thyroid gland
- The UFC told him his targeted opponents are currently injured and unavailable
Sources: yardbarker.com
UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev has given the promotion a deadline for his next fight. If he’s not booked by December, he plans to take an extended break to address medical issues that require surgery.
Chimaev tagged UFC president Dana White directly on social media, calling for a fight before the end of 2026. He wants to compete again this year but said the UFC told him his targeted opponents aren’t available due to injuries.
“If nothing happens in October or December, I think I’ll take a little break,” Chimaev told Adam Zubayraev in a recent interview. “I have a lot of injuries that I need to get treated.”
Multiple Surgeries Being Postponed
The 30-year-old fighter revealed he’s been delaying necessary medical procedures to stay active. He said he enters every fight dealing with some kind of physical problem.
š³š£ļø Khamzat Chimaev still doesnāt rate Sean Strickland highly, says he couldnāt even imagine Sean beating him before their fight:
āIf Imavov is feeling good cardio wise, technically I think Imavov is much better than him, all fighters are better than [Strickland].
Before theā¦ pic.twitter.com/Ehy6ZDSC4B
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) September 13, 2026
“I’ve been putting off my surgeries, putting them off, putting them off, and I go into every fight with some kind of problem,” Chimaev explained. He added that he doesn’t like talking about his health issues publicly.
Chimaev disclosed he’s already undergone six surgeries and been under anesthesia seven times during his career. He’s also missing half of his thyroid gland, which has contributed to frequent illness.
“I don’t have half of my thyroid gland,” he said. “People already know that I get sick often. That’s just how it is with me.”
An injury prevented Chimaev from making a quick turnaround after winning the middleweight title last year. He had originally pushed for an October return but recently moved his target date to December.
First Loss Brings New Supporters
Chimaev’s last fight ended with his first career loss when Sean Strickland defeated him to reclaim the middleweight title. The loss also ended Chimaev’s undefeated record in the UFC.
Despite losing, Chimaev said the fight brought him new fans. He gained approximately one million social media followers after the bout, according to his comments in the interview.
Chimaev mentioned that Sean Strickland recently got booked for his next fight shortly after Chimaev suggested he was open to facing opponents other than an immediate rematch. Strickland had originally been targeting an October return but pushed his comeback to December.
The champion said he still has injuries and health conditions that need to be addressed. He views his health challenges as something he must live with while continuing his career.
“The Almighty has ordained this for me,” Chimaev said when asked about being prone to illness. “I still have to live my life.”
Chimaev previously earned recognition for winning two UFC fights within ten days of each other early in his career. Fans haven’t seen that version of the fighter in recent years due to various health and injury setbacks.
The UFC has not yet announced when Chimaev will return to the octagon. His December deadline means a decision on his fighting future will come within the next few months.
