What Should Be the Next Step for “Borz”?

The highly anticipated summer fight between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev has been canceled after Chimaev fell seriously ill. Whittaker, the former middleweight champion, will now face rising talent Ikram Aliskerov, whose only career loss came against Chimaev.

Following the fight’s cancellation last week, “Borz” remained silent until his manager, Majdi Shammas, released a statement explaining that Chimaev had tried to fight through the illness but ultimately had to withdraw. The exact nature of the illness has not been disclosed yet. Chimaev has since broken his silence on social media, stating,

“We all have plans, but Allah has his own plans for us. Alhamdulillah.”

Chimaev has been struggling with health issues for some time, which notably cost him a potential title shot after his victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294. Now, his health has once again derailed his UFC plans, making the road to the title even longer.

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Despite being widely regarded as a top talent with championship potential, Chimaev’s career has been hampered by visa issues, health problems, and difficult weight cuts. Missing weight before UFC 279 forced Chimaev to move from welterweight, losing his top ranking in that division. Currently, Chimaev has no ranked wins in the middleweight category, leaving his future in the sport uncertain. However, in an interview with MMA Junkie, Majdi Shammas clarified that Chimaev has no plans to retire.

For Chimaev, the next step should be focusing on recovery and ensuring he is in optimal shape to compete at his best. Reestablishing himself in the middleweight division by securing victories over ranked opponents will be crucial. This strategic focus could help him regain his momentum and eventually earn another title shot.

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