The anticipated fight between Khamzat Chimaev and UFC middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov, initially targeted for December 2025 and then rescheduled for February 2026, has been delayed due to an injury sustained by Chimaev. The Chechen-born Emirati fighter required surgery for a minor foot injury, postponing his return, which is now expected to take place after Ramadan.
Imavov, who has won his last five fights, disclosed that although the UFC management expressed interest in the matchup, no final contracts have been signed. Discussions took place with UFC officials Hunter Campbell and Mick Maynard, but the injury to Chimaev has prevented the fight from moving forward as planned.
Khamzat Chimaev Undergoes Foot Surgery and Eyes Post-Ramadan Comeback
Khamzat Chimaev recently underwent minor surgery to address a foot injury, sidelining him temporarily from competition. He has indicated that he plans to resume fighting once the Ramadan period concludes, with expectations that his title defense will occur sometime after mid-March.
“Khamzat Chimaev revealed he recently had minor surgery to repair an injury in his foot, and says he plans to make his return sometime after Ramadan. We can expect Borz to return sometime after mid-March 👀🐺”—Combat Buzz, MMA News Outlet
Despite the delay, Chimaev has remained focused on his recovery. Meanwhile, Imavov, nicknamed “The Sniper,” has maintained dialogue with UFC matchmakers, keeping the potential bout alive but awaiting confirmation.
Imavov Shares Details on Fight Negotiations and Postponements
In an interview, Imavov revealed that UFC officials want to organize his fight against Chimaev and are hopeful it will happen in the near future. Nonetheless, he stressed that no official announcements have been made and emphasized the uncertainty caused by Chimaev’s injury.
“So, no final news yet, no contract signed. One of the last discussions I had was with Hunter Campbell and Mick Maynard during UFC Qatar, and they told me that they want to schedule the fight against Khamzat for December, then for February. But Khamzat got injured… We spoke recently with matchmaker Mick Maynard, and they want to see the fight happen, but nothing is confirmed yet. No final approval.” —Nassourdine Imavov, UFC Middleweight Contender
Imavov also revealed that the last conversations with the UFC matchmakers took place before Sean Strickland’s important win at UFC Houston, highlighting the dynamic situation within the middleweight division.
Imavov’s Intent to Rematch Sean Strickland Amid Ongoing Rivalry
Following Sean Strickland’s recent victory over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston, Strickland quickly called out Chimaev for a fight. However, Imavov, who lost to Strickland in 2023, remains focused on settling scores with Strickland first due to a strained relationship intensified by Strickland’s controversial comments.
The tension largely stems from Strickland’s inflammatory remarks about both fighters and the Muslim community, causing significant friction within the division.
“Do you want to see two f***ing terrorist Muslims fight each other? Nobody gives a f**k about two foreigners fighting. It’d be funny if they bring a f***ing terrorist to the White House.” —Sean Strickland, UFC Fighter
Imavov responded with strong disdain for Strickland’s attitude and words, expressing his desire to defeat Strickland in a rematch and prove him wrong.
“I hate him. I don’t like the way he speaks. I don’t like the way he thinks. I don’t like the way he speaks about my people… I will leave him dead inside the cage.” —Nassourdine Imavov, UFC Middleweight Contender
The Future Path of Khamzat Chimaev and the UFC Middleweight Division
Khamzat Chimaev’s recovery and return will be pivotal in shaping the middleweight landscape, especially with contenders like Imavov eager to earn their title shots. The repeated postponements highlight the challenges injuries pose in high-stakes matchups and the UFC’s efforts to reschedule the fight despite setbacks.
Meanwhile, the personal conflict between Imavov and Strickland adds complexity to the division, as Imavov seeks redemption against Strickland before pursuing the UFC middleweight title. Fans and analysts alike will closely watch upcoming UFC events to see how these rivalries and title aspirations evolve once Chimaev returns to action.
Khamzat Chimaev revealed he recently had minor surgery to repair an injury in his foot, and says he plans to make his return sometime after Ramadan.
We can expect Borz to return sometime after mid-March 👀🐺 pic.twitter.com/0BKgGdzHmn
— Combat Buzz (@CombatBuzzX) November 23, 2025
See you after Ramadan @imavov1 🤫
You have time work on your wrestling Bratishka 😁— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) November 27, 2025
https://twitter.com/RedCorner_MMA/status/2026457436765516147
Sean Strickland doesn't want to see Khamzat Chimaev vs Nassourdine Imavov
"Do you want to see two f***ing terrorist Muslims fight each other? Nobody gives a f**k about two foreigners fighting.
It'd be funny if they bring a f***ing terrorist to the White House."
(via @ufc) pic.twitter.com/UGpMrLjVHi
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 19, 2026
Nassourdine Imavov absolutely despises Sean Strickland:
"I hate him. I don’t like the way he speaks. I don’t like the way he thinks. I don’t like the way he speaks about my people. … I will leave him dead inside the cage."
(🎥: @mikeHeck_JR) pic.twitter.com/lRtnEATMz0
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) February 23, 2026
