Khamzat Chimaev breaks silence on retirement rumours ahead of UFC title fight
Khamzat Chimaev has dismissed speculation that he might hang up his gloves if he captures the middleweight title at UFC 319 later this month.
The unbeaten fighter gets his first shot at UFC gold on August 16 when he takes on current middleweight king Dricus Du Plessis in Chicago. Chimaev heads into the bout following a commanding first-round submission victory over Robert Whittaker last October.
'Borz' has been tipped for greatness since joining the UFC roster in 2020, though injuries and health issues have disrupted his progress thus far. Last month, leading middleweight challenger Caio Borralho claimed that "whispers" indicate Chimaev would retire should he triumph next week, reports All Out Fighting.
The fighter previously told his mother he would retire once he had secured a belt to take home to her, but he appears to have quashed talk of stepping away. Speaking to ESPN, he said: "Yeah, I've seen Caio said... I don't know where he hears those things.
"I need money bro. This is not enough, just to go for the one title. Hopefully if I don't get injured or some stuff, gonna defend the belt or fight for other belt in Abu Dhabi, as well."
The 31-year-old has pledged to continue fighting beyond UFC 319 as he sets his sights on glory across multiple divisions. "I work with a new coach and talk to him about going down again to 170lb. He said gimme a couple months and I'm gonna make it. I don't know who is the champ there, this Australian guy would be a good fight for me," he continued. "Go down, fight with him as well, take the belt there. If I go up, there is Ankalaev and Alex Pereira, they're fighting now. Whoever's winning, I can fight for that belt, as well."
Prior to his comeback next weekend, Chimaev has revealed his spiritual outlook. 'Borz', a committed Muslim, is determined to leave behind a meaningful legacy before his time comes. "I believe in God, so I want to meet him as well," Chimaev continued during a different part of the interview.
"Life is going really fast... I'm already 31," he acknowledged. I remember being 6 or 7 years old, and it feels like yesterday. I believe in God, so do good things before I meet Him. If you're not ready to die when it comes, you'll be scared. Maybe my thinking about that made me who I am today."
When is Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus Du Plessis?
UFC 319 - topped by a middleweight championship bout between Chimaev and Du Plessis - takes place on Saturday, August 16 at Chicago's United Center. The early preliminary card is set to begin at approximately 11pm Saturday evening UK time, whilst the preliminary bouts will commence at roughly 1am Sunday morning UK time. The main card is set to kick off at 3am Sunday morning UK time.
Chimaev, in the main event, will be the first to enter the cage at approximately 5:30am Sunday morning UK time, with Du Plessis following straight after. The match will be broadcast on TNT Sports and discovery+ in the UK, with the early preliminary rounds accessible on the UFC Fight Pass.
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