Dana White hopes Khamzat Chimaev could make his U.S. return in 2025.
Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) positioned himself in title competition when he ran via former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker for a first-round submission at UFC 308 in October.
The UFC CEO was very impressed with Chimaev’s return, and anticipates him preventing for the middleweight title subsequent 12 months – ideally within the U.S.
“He seemed unimaginable,” White mentioned of Chimaev on “The Jim Rome Present.” “His supervisor was telling me earlier than the struggle that mentally, bodily and emotionally he’s the most effective he’s ever been. He mentioned, ‘I’m telling you, wait till you see him on Saturday,’ and he was proper. He was useless on.
“This man’s by no means seemed higher, particularly towards the competitors that he had. I’m trying ahead to him getting a title struggle in ’25. We’ll see how this performs out right here, however I would like him to struggle in america. I would like him to struggle for a title right here within the U.S.”
Chimaev hasn’t competed within the U.S. since submitting Kevin Holland at UFC 279 in Las Vegas. Chimaev’s fast end of Whittaker acquired the eye of UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who mentioned he’d relatively defend his title towards the unbeaten sensation over a rematch with Sean Strickland.
The promotion is but to announce Du Plessis’ subsequent title struggle, however his head coach Morne Visser mentioned the plan is to compete at UFC 312 Feb. 8 in Sydney.
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