Khamzat Chimaev is eager to win UFC 308 middleweight title

Russian MMA fighter Khamzat Chimaev has said he will most likely fight at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi in October, and that he would like to challenge for the middleweight title.

“My return will most likely be in October in Abu Dhabi,” Chimaev said on MatchTV on Tuesday.

“The opponent is not yet known, but I would like to fight for the title.”

Chimaev is undefeated in his seven fights in the UFC since 2020 — a fact he was quick to emphasize.

“I have seven fights and seven wins under my belt,” he said.

“There is no fighter in the UFC who has won seven fights without fighting for the title.

“Dana White keeps saying different things, but we’re negotiating.”

Cancellations a problem for Chimaev

While Chimaev would like to fight for the middleweight title at UFC 308, the chances of that happening are slim.

Since his UFC debut in 2020, the Russian has struggled with illness and obesity.

He was scheduled to fight Leon Edwards in 2020 and 2021, but the fight was canceled three times.

Fights against Nate Diaz, Paulo Costa and Robert Whittaker have also been cancelled in the past two years.

Of Chimaev’s seven wins in the UFC, only two came against ranked opponents.

More likely candidates to challenge for the top spot in the division are Sean Strickland and Whittaker, who recently recorded big wins over Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov.

Dricus du Plessis is the title holder and will face Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth in August.

The bouts for UFC 308 have not yet been announced, but Russian heavyweight Alexander Volkov is rumored to take on Ciryl Gane in the main event on October 26.

When the odds come in at UFC bookmakers, the betting lines will be tight. Gane should have the upper hand as the Frenchman wins their first clash of 2021.

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