Islam Makhachev celebrating win in UFC 311 main event, Khamzat Chimaev celebrating submission over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308. Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Islam Makhachev’s manager shares five reasons why Khamzat Chimaev super-fight won’t happen in UFC

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow
By Christopher De Santiago | Last updated Aug 28, 2025 12:45 AM ET

Ali Abdelaziz was asked about Islam Makhachev vs. Khamzat Chimaev possibly happening.

Talk of the potential super-fight followed Khamzat Chimaev’s dominant middleweight title win over Dricus du Plessis in the main event of UFC 319 earlier this month.

Makhachev is the former pound-for-pound king and the former lightweight champion making the move to welterweight. Makhachev relinquished his title in pursuit of a second belt against champion Jack Della Maddalena at 170 lbs.

While Makhachev and Chimaev are divisions apart, Chimaev recently said the quickest path to being the #1 pound-for-pound planet was by beating Makhachev.

Makhachev has since responded, saying ‘we’ll see’, adding that he doesn’t want any problems between their people and that he still has to get past JDM first, which according to Abdelaziz is a ‘done deal’.

Chimaev fought at welterweight earlier in his UFC career, but it looks like team Makhachev isn’t on board with the matchup.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Islam Makhachev’s manager rules out Khamzat Chimaev fight

Ali Abdelaziz, manager of Makhachev and the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov, doesn’t think we’ll ever get to see ‘Chimaev vs. Makhachev’ on the marquee.

“This fight will never happen,” Makhachev’s manager said of Chimaev vs. Makhachev on Submission Radio.

Abdelaziz has a handful of reasons for why.

“First of all, Khamzat is too big,” he started off saying.

“I don’t think he can ever make welterweight,” Abdelaziz said of the middleweight champion.

“And in a way, like these guys, they know each other. I don’t think, they’re from the same region.

“And honestly, these fights make absolutely no sense.

“I think if Khamzat go up and wanna fight a light heavyweight, maybe it makes more sense.

“But in a way, Khamzat has so many contenders to clean out in the division before even thinking about moving to a different weight division,” Abdelaziz added, saying ‘Borz’ needs to be fair to the middleweight contenders.

Ali Abdelaziz offers update on Justin Gaethje’s retirement ultimatum

Gaethje refuses to back down at 36 years old.

The former UFC interim lightweight champion wants a third crack at the undisputed title against Ilia Topuria and he claimed he’s willing to retire if he’s not next in line.

That was back in June. Months later, Abdelaziz says his client is still holding out for a title opportunity.

“Nothing changed. Justin’s sticking to his gun,” Gaethje’s manager said.