Khamzat Chimaev: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Features

A video posted on fight week caught the attention of the UFC’s middleweight champion. Dana White has announced new bonuses that will come into play at the promotion’s first event of 2026 later today in Las Vegas.

MMA News / Dice City Sports / January 22

Dricus Du Plessis Vows Evolution After Title Loss to Khamzat Chimaev

Former UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis isn’t running from what happened at UFC 319 he’s studying it. Du Plessis saw his 11-fight winning streak come to a halt in August when Khamzat Chimaev delivered a suffocating five-round performance to claim the middleweight title in Chicago.

MMA News / The Body Lock / January 20

Why Du Plessis’ Coach Says They Were Unprepared for Chimaev’s ‘Lay-and-Pray’ Strategy

Du Plessis coach Morne Visser blames referee Marc Goddard for not standing up the fight during the August UFC 319 loss to Khamzat Chimaev Visser admits

MMA News / HITC / January 20

Du Plessis coach hits out at referee after Chimaev fight and makes daring pledge

Dricus Du Plessis’ head coach still has thoughts lingering from his loss to Khamzat Chimaev, even months after the fight. The build-up to UFC 319 was lengthy, and when it finally happened in August, Dricus Du Plessis took a one-sided defeat against Khamzat Chimaev in the main event.

MMA News / Total Pro Sports / January 20

Dricus Du Plessis Reveals He Discovered A Missing Piece After Fighting Khamzat Chimaev

No one has cracked Khamzat Chimaev’s game plan yet. He’s still walking undefeated in the UFC and now holds the middleweight title. He defeated Dricus Du Plessis in such a dominant fashion that everyone was in shock.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / January 20

Former UFC Champion’s Return Timeline Revealed as Khamzat Chimaev Rematch Looms

Dricus du Plessis plans an April comeback, a fight that could put the middleweight No. 1 contender back in the title race and set up a potential rematch with champion Khamzat Chimaev.

MMA News / HITC / January 18

Khamzat Chimaev fires surprise warning to fans over his next UFC fight

Khamzat Chimaev was looking to step back into the Octagon quickly after capturing the middleweight title. But an injury put those plans on hold, forcing him to wait longer than expected to silence any doubters.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / January 17

Khamzat Chimaev Breaks Character as He Confesses Harsh Truth About Kamaru Usman Fight

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev appeared untouchable during his early days, having absorbed only 1 strike in his first 5 UFC fights. That statistic was turned upside down in his 6th fight against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273, where he took 119 strikes in a fierce showdown.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / January 17

Khamzat Chimaev Snubs Nassourdine Imavov as UFC Houston Intensifies Race to His Title

Khamzat Chimaev vs. Nassourdine Imavov seems like the next match in the middleweight division for the title. In a verbal exchange on X, both superstars agreed to clash after Ramadan, which only added to the buzz.

MMA News / Bloody Elbow / January 17

Khamzat Chimaev claims ‘nobody wants to fight’ when providing update on his UFC return

Khamzat Chimaev originally hoped to make a quick turnaround after winning the middleweight title. The undefeated star’s plan ended up being derailed by an injury that eliminated the chances of him proving people wrong.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / January 16

Was Khamzat Chimaev In An Accident? Sources Close To UFC Star Reveal Health Status

The MMA community is gripped with a terrifying update about the UFC middleweight champion, Khamzat Chimaev. With chatter growing surrounding a supposed car accident, the fanbase is sent into bitter shock over his rumored death.

MMA News / BoxingNews.com / January 14

Does Chimaev Deserve The Pereira Fight?

A rivalry has been reignited, as middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev has challenged light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira to a fight at the UFC White House card.

MMA News / EssentiallySports / January 13

Colby Covington Gives Nassourdine Imavov Clear Strategy to Beat Khamzat Chimaev

The blueprint to beat Khamzat Chimaev isn’t hidden. It’s just brutal to execute. That’s the underlying message coming from Colby Covington, who believes the middleweight champion’s aura of inevitability can be shattered.

MMA News / MMA Weekly / January 12

Khamzat Chimaev calls out Alex Pereira: 'Don't worry, I'll finish you fast'

UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev captured the 185-pound championship at UFC 319 last August, utterly decimating former titleholder Dricus Du Plessis. Having not yet defended his belt, Chimaev is angling for a champion vs.

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MMA News / EssentiallySports / January 12

Reinier de Ridder Reignites Khamzat Chimaev vs. Alex Pereira Talks With Unexpected Prediction

Khamzat Chimaev is seeking larger battles. The fighter ranked number one in the middleweight division has not yet defended a championship title, but he is already talking about a switch to light heavyweight.

MMA News / HITC / January 12

Alex Pereira targeted by Khamzat Chimaev with fight date, venue and brutal warning

Khamzat Chimaev is now focused on taking on another UFC titleholder. He has not been in action since capturing the 185-pound belt from Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 last August.

MMA News / The Body Lock / January 11

Jon Jones Names the Fighter Who Could Dominate Every UFC Weight Class

Jon Jones called Khamzat Chimaev ‘one of the top fighters on the planet’ and the ‘toughest fighter’ in UFC Jones believes Chimaev could dominate at any

MMA News / MMA on SI / January 6

UFC parts ways with 22-fight MMA veteran that debuted against Khamzat Chimaev

Former Cage Warriors titleholder Rhys McKee is apparently no longer a part of the UFC roster as of the first full week of 2026. Currently in the midst

MMA News / Dice City Sports / December 16

Joaquin Buckley Challenges Khamzat Chimaev: 'Stay on Your Feet for One Round and I’ll Give You $50,000'

Joaquin Buckley isn’t just calling out the best fighters in the world he’s putting cash on the line to prove a point. The rising welterweight contender (21-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC) has aimed his latest challenge directly at UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, daring the undefeated star to stand with him for a single round without wrestling.