Cancellations are piling up for Khamzat Chimaev. Although he was supposed to face Robert Whittaker at UFC Saudi Arabia on June 22, the Swede was forced to withdraw. Affected by an illness, the fighter is considering retirement.
Are we witnessing the twilight of one of the greatest talents in MMA history? On June 13, Dana White announced that Khamzat Chimaev would not be able to fight Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia on June 22. Shortly after this announcement, Mukhammad Eskirkhanov, the Swede’s teammate, posted a worrying photo of his friend in the hospital. Already affected by COVID-19 three years ago, this is not the first time ‘Borz’ has been weakened by illnesses. The fighter had already indicated his retirement on social media at the time, before backtracking.
Except this time, the decision could be final. According to the MMA Uncensored account, the Swede is reflecting on the future of his career: “Khamzat Chimaev is considering retiring from mixed martial arts and the UFC after a recent illness forced him to withdraw from the main event in Saudi Arabia.”
For now, no other information on the fighter’s health has been shared. Undefeated in 13 fights, including seven in the UFC, Khamzat Chimaev is one of the greatest talents in the organization’s history. Capable of competing in three different divisions (welterweight, middleweight, and light heavyweight), he is in search of his first belt: will he achieve it?
